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SERGEANT   TAYLOR    RESCUING    LIEUTENANT    KING. 


UNCLE  SAM'S 

MEDAL    OF     HONOR 


SOME    OF    THE    NOBLE    DEEDS    FOR   WHICH    THE 

MEDAL  HAS  BEEN  AWARDED,  DESCRIBED  BY 

THOSE  WHO  HAVE  WON  IT 

I86l-l886 


COLLECTED    AND    EDITED    BY 

THEO.    F.    RODENBOUGH 

BREVET  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  U.  S.  A. 


With  Portraits  and  other  Illustrations 


NEW  YORK  &  LONDON 

G.    P.    PUTNAM'S    SONS 
CTtJ*  Unidurbocfecr  $)vrss 


COPYRIGHT,  1886. 
BY  G.  P.  PUTNAM'S    SONS. 


Press  of 

G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 
New  York. 


TO 

OUR  VETERANS 

AND    TO 

YOUNG  AMERICA 

THIS     BOOK     IS 
INSCRIBED. 


THE  MEDAL  OF  HONOR. 


FORT    MCHENRY,     1814. 

PREFACE. 


THERE  is  no  reward  for  military  merit  dearer  to  the 
Soldier's  heart  than  the  decoration  bestowed  by  his 
Government  for  brave  deeds  in  the  line  of  duty.  Promo 
tion,  Power,  Wealth  are  to  him  trifles  compared  with  the 
Iron  Cross  of  Germany,  the  Victoria  Cross  of  England,  the 
Cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  of  France,  the  Russian 
Cross  of  Saint  George  or  the  Medal  of  Honor  of  the  United 
States. 

In  all  ages  a  personal  decoration  for  valor  has  been 
eagerly  sought,  proudly  worn  and  jealously  guarded,  and 
in  all  countries,  save  our  own,  it  has  been  conspicuously 
honored.  In  Europe,  where  such  rewards  are  more  numer 
ous,  because  of  the  size  of  armies  and  the  frequency  of  war, 


vj  PREFACE. 

the  possessor  of  this  glorious  token  is  envied  by  men,  ad 
mired  by  women,  and  loved  by  children. 

In  America  the  men  who  are  entitled  to  wear  the  Medal 
of  Honor,*  given  by  the  Congress  only  for  distinguished 
conduct  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  are  almost  un 
known  to  their  countrymen,  and  the  records  of  their  hero 
ism  lie  buried  in  the  pigeon-holes  of  the  War  Department 
and  in  the  recesses  of  their  own  breasts.  And  yet  in 
the  very  year  of  the  institution  of  this  military  reward, 
Mr.  Stanton,  the  famous  war  minister,  proclaimed  f  that 
"  alacrity,  daring,  courageous  spirit  and  patriotic  zeal  on 
all  occasions  and  under  every  circumstance  is  expected 
from  the  Army  of  the  United  States  .  .  .  and  the  people 
of  the  United  States  will  rejoice  to  honor  every  soldier 
and  officer  who  proves  his  courage  by  charging  with  the 
bayonet  and  storming  entrenchments,  or  in  the  blaze  of 
the  enemy's  fire  !  " 

A  stranger  within  our  gates  will  hardly  agree  with  the  as 
sertion,  so  often  made,  that  "we  are  not  a  military  people  " 
if  he  takes  note  of  the  profusion  of  military  medals  and 
crosses  worn  by  American  citizens.  With  few  exceptions, 
these  have  no  national,  official  significance.  The  badges 
of  the  Loyal  Legion,  the  Grand  Army  of^the  Republic  and 
kindred  associations  are  honorable  reminders  of  our  greatest 
struggle  for  Liberty  and  Union,  but  do  not  mark  individual 
acts  of  courage  or  self-sacrifice.  After  these  come  militia 
decorations  :  prizes  for  length  of  service,  marksmanship,  zeal 
in  recruiting,  athletic  sports,  personal  popularity,  and  other 
commendable  things. 


*  For  full  description  see  Appendix. 

t  General  Order  5,  Headquarters  of  the  Army,  Jan.  22,  1862. 


1> RE  FACE.  yjj 

That  a  great  nation,  possessing  for  more  than  twenty 
years  a  congressional  decoration  for  valor,  already  conferred 
upon  several  hundred  heroes,  should  be  ignorant  of  its  exist 
ence  is  astonishing. 

The  cause  of  this  ignorance  may  be  found  in  the  mistaken 
simplicity  which  has  marked  the  method  of  presentation. 

In  countries  from  which  we  get  many  of  our  best  military 
customs,  the  decoration  is  often  handed  to  the  soldier  by 
his  Sovereign  in  the  presence  of  the  principal  officers  of 
state,  of  large  bodies  of  troops,  and  of  thousands  of  the 
people ;  the  name  of  the  fortunate  recipient  is  published  in 
the  official  gazette  and  by  the  press  throughout  the  domin 
ions. 

In  oiir  country  this  reward  from  the  highest  power  in  our 
Government  is  sometimes  conveyed  to  the  brave  winner  by 
the  hands  of  the  postman,  with  the  brief  remark,  perhaps,  of 
"  a  parcel  for  you."  Seldom  is  there  a  parade  of  the  troops, 
or  prancing  of  cavalry  squadrons,  or  rumble  of  artillery 
wheels,  or  flashing  of  infantry  bayonets,  or  crash  of  military 
bands  while  the  prize  for  valor  is  pinned  over  a  heart  swell 
ing  with  honeit  pride.  Seldom  is  the  affair  an  occasion  of 
ceremony.  But  mayhap  the  man  will  glance  wistfully  at  it, 
for  it  means  so  much  to  him  and  seems  to  mean  so  little  to 
others,  and  then  it  is  laid  aside  to  be  occasionally  brought 
out  for  inspection  by  a  comrade,  or  to  be  worn  on  parade  if 
specially  authorized. 

The  War  Department  has  very  recently  published  a  list 
of  officers  and  enlisted  men  who  received  the  Medal  for  dis 
tinguished  service  during  the  war.  A  similar  list  of  those 
who  have  been  thus  decorated  since  the  war  (more  than 
three  hundred)  will  doubtless  be  forthcoming.  An  order 


Vlll 


PKEEA  CE. 


containing  such  a  lis*t,  with  general  instructions  for  the  pre 
sentation  of  the  Medal  in  future,  might  be  issued  with  great 
benefit  to  the  Service. 

The  record  of  many  of  the  exploits  for  which  the  Medal 
has  been  given  shows  that  they  have  been  as  grand  as  any 
in  the  so-called  Age  of  Chivalry,  and  that  they  shed  a  bril 
liant  lustre  upon  our  national  escutcheon. 

Why  should  not  the  custom  of  the  Continental  Armyr 
established  by  Washington,  that  those  who  had  received 
the  "  Badge  of  Military  Merit  "  should  be  "  suffered  to  pass 
all  guards  and  sentinels  which  officers  are  permitted  to  do," 
be  revived  and  applied  to  the  Medal  of  Honor?  "The 
road  to  glory,  in  a  patriot  army  and  a  free  country,  is  thus 
opened  to  all."  As  has  been  said  by  a  gallant  volun 
teer  officer,  "  Can  we  afford  to  neglect  those  appeals  to 
an  honest  pride  which  Napoleon  and  every  other  great 
captain  have  found  so  valuable  ?  "  f 

The  names  of  those  whose  deeds  are  herein  described 
were  taken  at  random  from  the  official  list  above  mentioned. 

The  valuable  aid  rendered  the  Editor  by  the  .Adjutant- 
General  of  the  Army,  the  Adjutants-General  of  many  of  the 
States,  Captain  R.  Catlin,  U.  S.  A.,  Captain  H.  M.  Munsell, 
U.  S.  V.,  and  Lieutenant  A.  W.  Vogdes,  U.  S.  A.,  is  grate 
fully  acknowledged. 


*  See  Appendix. 

+  Capt.  G.  F.  \oyes'  "  Bivouac  and  Battlefield. 


CONTENTS. 


A  MINNESOTA  BOY'S  FIRST  BATTLE r 

"  FIGHTING  JOE'S  "  MEN 21 

MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURGH 33 

THE  SALIENT  AT  SPOTTSYLVANIA 7 1 

THE  VICTORS  AND  THE  SPOILS 93 

THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS 115 

HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS 126 

FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN 145 

WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME 163 

FOILING  AN  ASSASSIN 210 

A  BEAU  SABREUR 

"  RED  CLOUD'S  "  BAPTISM  OF  FIRE 

TRAILING  THE  APACHES 249 

A  SPARTAN  BAND 276 

THE  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY 301 

HUNTING  "  LITTLE  WOLF  " 320 

BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES 335 

REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL 374 

A  MERITORIOUS  CAMP  FOLLOWER. . .  401 

APPENDIX:  U.  S.  MILITARY  REWARDS,  1776-1886. . .  403 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FULL  PAGES. 

I'AT.H 

SERGEANT  TAYLOR  SAVING  CAPTAIN  KING        .         Frontispiece 
THE  MEDAL  OF  HONOR       .......        iv 

"COME  AND  TAKE  IT"        ....  .  x 

PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  TO  GENERAL  HOOKER       .         .         .21 
SERGEANT-MAJOR  HINCKS  AT  GETTYSBURG       .  .       34 

CORPORAL  WEEKS  AND  HIS  CORPS  COMMANDER         .         .       70 

BATTLE  RELICS .96 

CORPORAL  ANDERSON'S  BREVET  .         .         .         .         .112 

FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN  .....     144 

SERGEANT  MUNSELL'S  FLAG .162 

SERGEANT  ROBINSON'S  GOLD  MEDAL          ....     209 
CONFEDERATE  COLORS  AND  CAPTORS          ....     22:; 

FORT  PHIL  KEARNEY 238 

"  A  FRIEND  INDEED  "  ......     248 

A  CERTIFICATE  OF  MERIT  ......     266 

SCOUT  CHAPMAN'S  HEROISM        ......     275 

OUR  CAVALRY  IN  WINTER  ......     300 

THE  CORRAL        .         .  .         .  .      .  '  .         .361 

''SOLDIERS  COMING" 366 

PORTRAITS. 

PAGE  PAGE 

SERGEANT  MERRITT   .     .  i  LIEUT.  GERE      ....  95 

SERGEANT  BROWNE     .     .  22  PRIVATE  DUNLAVY      .     .  107 

SERGEANT  LUTY    ...  28  CORPORAL  MONAGHAN    .  113 

MAJOR  HINCKS  .     ...  33  CAPTAIN  ANDERSON    .     .  121 

GENERAL  BUFORD  ...  42  LIEUT.  CURTIS  ....  126 

JOHN  BURNS       ....  45  LIEUT.  RIDDELL      ...  130 

CORPORAL  WEEKS  .     .     .  71  LIEUT.  NORTON      .     .  135 

LIEUT.  FASNACHT  .     .     .  76  CAPTAIN  MUNSELL  163,195,207 


XIV 


ILLUSTRA  TIONS. 


POR  TRAITS.  —(Continued^ 


SERGEANT  ROBINSON  .     .  210 

PAYNE,  THE  ASSASSIN  .     .  216 

COL.  TOM  CUSTER  .     .     .  223 

RAIN-IN-THE  FACE      .     .  232 

RED  CLOUD 239 

LIEUT. -CoL.  POWELL  .     .  241 

CAPTAIN  KING  ....  249 

SERGEANT  NIHILL  .     .     .  264 

SERGEANT  HARRINGTON  276 

PRIVATE  EVANS      .     .     .  301 

LITTLE  WOLF  AND  CAPTOR  319 

SERGEANT  LEWIS   .     .     .  320 

MAJOR  THORNBURGH      .  334 

INDIAN  BOY 335 


FORT  MCHENRY,  1814 
CANDLE  AND  SERPENT 
SHERIDAN'S  CAV'RY  BADGE 
FRENCH  MORTAR  . 
THE  DIETRICH  FARM 
CAVALRYMAN  OF  186, 
THE  ADVANCE  GUARD 
GETTYSBURG — FIRST  DAY 
GETTYSBURG  BELLE   . 
CONFEDERATE  PICKET 
WHERE  PICKETT  HALTED 
RELIEVING  WOUNDED 
A  FIRESIDE   .     .     . 
THE  WILDERNESS  . 
ANCIENT  ARTILLERY 
GEN.  SCOTT'S  AUTOGRAPH 


"  OURAY  " 

"  ANTELOPE  "     .     .     . 

"BILL" 

"  UTE]ACK"     .     .     . 
PAYNE  AND  CHARGER 
SERGEANT  GRIMES 
SERGEANT  LAWTON    . 
JOSEPHINE  MEEKER    . 
"SUSAN"       .     .     .     . 
COL.  BEALL    .     .     .     , 
GENERAL  HARNEY 
COLONEL  MAY  . 
SERGEANT  FEGAN  . 


PAGE 

339 
340 


358 
359 
363 
368 

370 

373 

380 

384 
392 


MISCELLANEO  US. 

PAGE 

PACK 

1-   •          v 

KEARNEY  CROSS     . 

I  80 

[•  .'    19 

DEVIL'S  DEN      .... 

185 

LDGE     20 

MONUMENT  —  99TH  P.V. 

193 

•          32 

BATTLE-FLAG  —  99TH  P.V. 

208 

•          35 

THE  HAPPY  OMEN 

220 

•          38 

Music  ON  THE  FRONTIER 

237 

3   •       39 

A  MUSKETIER    .... 

247 

)AY      41 

THE  HELIOGRAPH  .     .     . 

25  I 

•       47 

ADJUTANT'S  OFFICE   .     . 

264 

•       54 

COMPANY  KITCHEN     .     . 

271 

:ED      57 

THE  COURIER    .... 

318 

.       62 

A  PACK-MULE  .... 

333 

.       69 

OURAY'S  SWORD     . 

372 

94 

RESTING    

400 

•     125 

"  CHUM  "  

402 

APH    l6l 

MILITARY  NEIGHBORS 

4i3 

THE   MEDAL  OF   HONOR, 


PART  FIRST. 

1861-1865. 

"  My  heart  is  fretting  like  a  tethered  steed's 
To  join  the  heroes  in  their  noble  deeds. 
A  noise  of  armies  gathers  in  my  ears : 
The  Southern  yells,  the  Northern  battle-cheers; 
The  endless  volleys,  ceaseless  as  the  roar 
Of  the  vexed  ocean,  brawling  with  its  shore  ; 
The  groaning  cannon,  puffing  at  a  breath  • 
Man's  shreds  and  fragments  through  the  jaws  of  death  ; 
The  rush  of  horses,  and  the  whirring  sway 
Of  the  keen  sabre  cleaving  soul  from  clay ; 
And  over  all,  intelligible  and  clear 
As  spoken  language  to  a  listening  ear, 
The  bugle  orders  the  tumultuous  herds, 
And  leads  the  flocks  of  battle  with  its  words." 

Boker. 


COME   AND   TAKE    IT  ! 


SERGEANT  JOHN    G.    MERRITT, 

FIRST   MINNESOTA    INFANTRY. 


A  MINNESOTA  BOY'S  FIRST  BATTLE. 

PERHAPS  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  (or  Manassas), 
which  was  fought  on  Virginia  soil  on  a  certain  Sun 
day  in  July,  1861,  may  be  likened  to  one  of  three  signal- 
guns  :  the  capture  of  Fort  Sumter  being  the  first,  and  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  the  third. 

The  firing  at  Sumter  warned  men  to  choose  sides  and  to 
prepare  for  a  struggle,  long  and  severe  ;  how  bitter,  how 
bloody,  none  at  the  time  dreamed. 

Bull  Run  and  its  famous  stampede  taught  the  lesson  that 
something  more  was  required  to  win  battles  than  masses  of 
armed  men  ;  that  courage  without  discipline  was  of  little 


2  A  MINNESOTA  BOY'S  FIRST  BATTLE. 

avail,  and  that  the  vast  resources  of  the  Government  must 
be  organized,  drilled  and  led  by  experienced  commanders 
ere  victory  could  be  ours. 

Gettysburg  marked  the  "  high  tide"  of  the  war:  the 
roar  of  its  cannon  sounded  the  death  knell  of  the  Confeder 
acy.  Other  battles  were  to  be  fought  and  thousands  of  men 
in  blue  and  gray  were  to  lie  down  in  death  on  the  same 
fields,  but  the  preservation  of  the  Union  was  assured  when 
the  sun  went  down  behind  the  sheets  of  summer  rain  on  the 
third  day  of  Gettysburg. 

Somehow  or  other  the  name  "  Bull  Run "  is  generally 
associated,  in  the  minds  of  people  who  were  not  there,  with 
the  idea  of  an  amusing  and,  on  one  side,  at  least,  an  en 
tirely  disgraceful  performance ;  and  this  is  quite  natural. 
We  are  often  told  that  first  impressions  are  strongest,  but 
this  hardly  holds  good  of  a  defeated  army :  there  the 
strongest  impression  is  doubtless  the  last. 

Greatly  ridiculed  and  denounced  when  it  occurred,  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run  is  gradually  rinding  its  vindication. 
General  Sherman  says  it  was  "  one  of  the  best  planned 
battles  of  the  war,  but  one  of  the  worst  fought,"  and  that 
"both  armies  were  fairly  defeated."  General  Johnston 
says:  "  If  the  tactics  of  the  Federals  had  been  equal  to  their 
strategy,  we  should  have  been  beaten."  While  therefore 
Bull  Run  will  always  be  famous  for  its  discreditable  feat 
ures,  it  is  now  known  that  in  no  other  affair  of  the  war 
were  there  more  brilliant  exhibitions  of  personal  gallantry 
and  heroism  than  on  that  historic  field.  Many  of  these  ex 
ploits  were  by  boys  of  eighteen  who  faced  death  there  for 
the  first  time.  One  of  these,  Sergeant  JOHN  G.  MERRITT, 


GOING  TO  THE  FRONT.  . 

Company  K,  First  Minnesota  Infantry,  who  afterward  re 
ceived  the  Medal  of  Honor  for  gallantry  at  Bull  Run,  tells 
the  story  of  his  first  battle  so  well  that  it  is  given  here  in 
his  own  words  : 

GOING  TO  THE  FRONT. 

"  I  was  a  sergeant  in  Co.  K,  First  Regiment  Minnesota 
Volunteers.*  The  regiment  broke  camp  at  Centerville 
about  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  July  21, 
1861.  With  a  soldier's  equipments  and  three  days'  rations, 
we  realized  before  sunrise  that  it  was  going  to  be  a  hot  day. 
After  we  had  been  on  the  march  for  about  a  couple  of 
miles  we  turned  off  the  main,  road  to  the  right  ;  we  were 
delayed  a  good  deal  by  fallen  trees  with  sharpened  points 
sticking  towards  us.  Whenever  we  could  we  would  double- 
quick,  and,  as  the  morning  was  very  hot,  the  pace  told  on 
some  of  the  men. 

"  John  Ball,  the  orderly  sergeant  of  K  Co.,  was  sick  and 
I  was  acting  as  orderly  sergeant.  As  sick  as  Ball  was,  he 
came  on  the  field,  and  I  saw  him  standing  near  the  regiment 
while  they  were  engaged,  with  his  arms  folded,  apparently 
the  most  unconcerned  person  of  the  lot ;  he  was  a  brave 
and  fearless  man.  Captain  Lester,  Lieutenants  Holtzbornf 
and  Periam^:  were  the  officers  of  the  company. 

"  We  could  hear  the  sound  of  cannon  very  distinctly  about 


*"  The  brigade  left  camp  near  Centerville  at  2.30  A.M.  in  the  following  order  :~ist 
Minnesota,  Ricketts'  Battery,  sth  Massachusetts.  The  Minnesota  regiment  was  arranged 
with  the  two  front  companies  as  ready  to  act  as  skirmishers,  the  next  three  companies  as 
the  advanced  guard,  and  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  formed  the  head  of  the  column 
...  the  brigade  reached  Bull  Run  about  n  A.M.  after  a  march  of  about  twelve  miles."- 
War  Records,  Col.  Franklin's  Report, 

t  Killed  at  Antietam. 

\  Mortally  wounded  at  Gettysburg. 


4  A  M1NNESO  TA  BOY'S  FIRS  T  BA  TTLE. 

eight  o'clock,  and  by  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  we  could  plainly 
hear  the  sound  of  musketry  ;  by  that  time  we  knew  we  were 
going  to  have  a  fight.  After  I  was  satisfied  that  such  was 
going  to  be  the  case,  and  being  desirous  of  obtaining  mili 
tary  distinction,  I  applied  to  Lieutenant  Holtzborn,  of  my 
company,  for  the  privilege  of  selecting  four  men  for  the  pur 
pose  of  capturing  the  first  Confederate  flag  we  could  get. 
The  lieutenant  told  me  it  was  a  hazardous  undertaking, 
but  said,  after  consultation  with  Captain  Lester,  I  had  per 
mission.  Sergeant  Dudley,  Privates  Durfee,  Grim  and  one 
other,  whose  name  I  have  forgotten,  readily  consented  to 
my  proposal,  and  all  agreed  to  follow  me  and  to  stick  to 
one  another  under  any  circumstances. 

"  Before  going  into  action,  the  whole  regiment  divested 
themselves  of  knapsacks,  haversacks  and  blankets,  and  piled 
them  in  one  large  heap  beside  the  road,  thinking  of  course 
we  would  be  back  in  a  couple  of  hours — as  soon  as  we  had 
'  crushed  the  Rebellion.'  I  and  my  four  men  in  partic 
ular  carried  nothing  with  us  but  our  ammunition  and  guns. 
After  we  had  supplied  ourselves  with  water,*  and  every 
thing  being  now  ready,  orders  were  given  to  '  Forward  ! 
and  we  immediately  filed  through  a  cluster  of  trees,  where 
the  dying  and  wounded  were  being  brought  on  stretchers 
and  blankets.  Everything  was  at  the  height  of  excitement, 
as  the  roar  of  camion  and  the  incessant  volleys  of  musketry 
were  very  heavy,  and  with  an  occasional  stray  shot  coming 

*  "  At  Sudley  Springs,  while  awaiting  the  passage  of  the  troops  of  the  division  in  our 
front,  I  ordered  forward  the  ist  Brigade  (Franklin's)  to  fill  their  canteens.  Captain 
Wright  led  forward  the  Minnesota  regiment  to  the  left  of  the  road  which  crossed  the 
Run  at  this  place.  .  .  ."— Colonel  H eintzlemarf  s  Report. 


GOING  INTO  ACTION. 

among  us,  you  can  rest  assured  the  regiment  was  on  the 
alert. 

"  I  never  shall  forget  the  first  sight  of  dead,  wounded  and 
dying.  Pity  and  sympathy,  mingled  with  a  feeling  of  fear, 
made  me  realize  in  an  instant  we  were  approaching  death. 
But  the  feeling  passed  away  as  soon  as  it  came. 

"  So  far  as  my  recollection  goes,  when  we  got  out  into  the 
open  space  we  were  ordered  to  the  other  side  of  the  field, 
and  in  marching  over,  double-quick,  we  passed  directly  in 
the  rear  of  our  artillery,  which  was  heavily  engaged.*  It 
was  very  laughable  and  amusing  to  see  some  of  the  men 
jump  and  squat  down,  trying  to  dodge,  in  all  manner  of 
ways,  the  cannon  shots  from  the  Rebel  guns ;  and  I  was 
not  slow  at  the  dodging  business  myself.  One  of  my  com 
pany  would  constantly  run  out  of  the  ranks  and  up  to  the 
captain  and  say,  '  Has  the  fight  commenced  yet  ?  Has 
the  fight  commenced  yet  ?'  He  was  not  long  in  finding 
out  when  the  fight  did  commence. 

"Arriving  at  what  seemed  to  me  the  extreme  right,  we 
formed  in  line  in  a  ravine,  near  some  cavalry,  and  awaited 
orders. 

"  It  was  now  about  half-past  one  o'clock.  We  were  soon 
ordered  forward,  and  as  we  advanced  rapidly  to  the  brow  of 
a  plateau  we  knew  we  were  soon  to  meet  the  enemy,  face 
to  face,  at  short  range.  Just  before  we  got  to  the  top  of 
the  plateau  the  bugle  sounded  'lie  down.'  With  fixed 
bayonets  and  loaded  rifles  we  were  ready  and  anxious  for 
business.  In  about  a  couple  of  minutes  the  bugle  sounded 

*  "At  a  little  more  than  a  mile  from  the  ford  we  came  upon  the  battlefield.  Franklin's 
brigade  was  posted  on  the  right  of  a  wood  near  the  centre  of  our  line,  and  on  ground  ris 
ing  toward  the  enemy's  position." — Colonel  Heintzleman's  Report. 


6  A  MINNESOTA  BOY'S  FIRST  BATTLE. 

1  stand  up  '  ;  no  sooner  had  we  done  so  and  were  well  in 
line  when  the  command  '  Forward !  '  was  given.  That 
brought  us  directly  in  plain  sight  and  directly  in  front  of  a 
line  of  '  Rebs.'  *  We  were  not  more  than  thirty  or  thirty- 
five  yards  apart ;  in  fact  we  were  so  close  that  for  a  minute 
we  did  not  know  who  they  were  f  (I  saw,  about  this  time, 
General  Heintzleman  riding  in  plain  view  of  the  enemy). 
We  saw  their  colors  and  all  fired  immediately  ;  in  less  than 
half  a  minute  they  gave  us  a  round.  We  were  ordered  to 
lie  down  and  load  ;  then  we  were  ordered  to  stand  up  and 
fire.  We  had  given  them  three  or  four  rounds  and  they 
were  slowly  falling  back,  a  little  confused.  When  the 
smoke  and  dust  would  break  away  we  could  see  them  and 
their  colors  as  plain  as  you  can  see  a  man  across  the  street. 
Just  at  this  time  a  single  gun  from  Ricketts'  Battery  came 
directly  to  the  rear  of  K  Company,  unlimbered,  and  in  less 
than  half  a  minute  gave  them  a  round  of  grape  and  canis 
ter.  The  artillerymen  immediately  reloaded  and  gave  them 
another  dose  of  the  same  medicine.  The  second  round 
threw  them  in  utter  confusion,  and  it  was  at  that  time 
myself  and  the  men  named  above  advanced  double-quick 
on  the  Rebel  color-bearer.  We  had  no  trouble  in  reaching 
him,  as  the  smoke  and  dust  had  not  risen,  and  from  his 


*  "  I  then  led  up  the  Minnesota  regiment,  which  was  also  repulsed  but  retired  in  toler 
ably  good  order.  It  did  good  service  in  the  woods  on  our  right  flank,  and  was  among  the 
last  to  retire,  coming  off  the  field  with  the  sd  U.  S.  infantry.  .  .  "—Colonel  Heintzle- 
inati's  Report- 

t  "The  ist  Minnesota  Regiment  moved  from  its  position  on  the  left  of  the  field  to  the 
support  of  Ricketts'  battery,  and  gallantly  engaged  the  enemy  at  that  point.  It  was 
so  near  that  point,  friends  and  foes  were  for  a  time  confounded.  The  regiment  be 
haved  exceedingly  well,  and  finally  retired  from  the  field  in  good  order."— Colonel 
franklin's  Report. 


A  FIGHT  FOR   7 "HE  STANDARD.  y 

actions  I  thought  he  was  under  the  impression  he  had  been 
captured. 

A  FIGHT  FOR  THE  STANDARD. 

"  The  man  who  carried  the  colors  was  about  five  feet  ten 
or  eleven  inches,  dark  complexioned,  with  black  hair,  slight 
mustache  and  black  eyes  ;  he  with  others  about  him  wore 
gray  clothes  and  black  slouch  hats ;  some  one  was  trying 
to  form  them.  The  color-bearer  had  his  coat  unbuttoned, 
with  his  hat  on  the  back  of  his  head.  As  I  got  within  a 
couple  of  feet  of  him  I  commanded  him  in  a  peremptory 
manner  to  surrender,  and  at  the  same  time  Dudley,  Durfee 
and  myself  cocked  our  guns.  I  grabbed  the  colors  out  of 
his  hand ;  he  and  one  or  two  more  said,  '  Don't  shoot ! 
don't  shoot ! ' 

"  The  flag  was  a  red  one  with  a  white  stripe  running 
through  the  middle  of  it,  with  blue  in  one  corner  and  some 
stars  on  it.  As  soon  as  I  grabbed  the  colors  out  of  the 
Johnnie's  hands  I  told  him  to  follow  me  quick,  and  at  the 
same  time  told  my  men  to  get  back  to  the  regiment  as  soon 
as  possible.  Dudley,  Grim  and  myself  were  laughing  at 
the  easy  thing  we  had,  and  all  of  us  running  for  the  regi 
ment  as  fast  as  we  could  go,  when — bang !  bang!  bang! 
came  a  volley  after  us,  killing  Grim  and  the  comrade  whose 
name  I  have,  forgotten,  and  at  the  same  time  a  dozen  or 
more  of  Rebs  ran  after  us,  some  of  them  hollering  *  Kill 

the  d d  black  abolition,  red-shirt  Yankee,  .  .  .  .'  and 

at  the  same  time  gave  us  another  round.  From  the  sound 
it  seemed  as  if  a  regiment  was  firing  at  us.  That  was  the 
shot  that  killed  young  Durfee  and  wounded  me  in  the  leg; 


8  A  MINNESO TA  BOY'S  FIRS T  BA TTLE. 

another  bullet  went  through  the  breast-pocket  of  my  shirt 
and  shivered  my  pipe  in  pieces.  I  dropped  my  gun  but 
held  on  to  the  flag,  and  was  going  about  as  fast  on  one  leg 
as  most  men  generally  go  on  two  ;  but  before  I  had  gone 
ten  feet  I  was  hit  over  the  head  with  what  I  thought  was 
the  stock  of  a  musket.  It  knocked  me  down  but  did  not 
knock  me  senseless.  They  immediately  pulled  the  flag  out 
of  my  hands  and  fell  back  on  a  run. 

"  As  they  did  so,  Dudley  came  back  to  me  (he  had  run 
ahead  some  little  distance),  helped  me  up  and  assisted  me 
along  as  fast  as  I  could  go.  How  Dudley  and  I  escaped 
with  our  lives  seems  almost  incredible,  and  looks  now  as  if 
we  had  been  hedged  about  with  some  halo  of  good  luck. 

"  From  the  firing  of  the  gun  of  Ricketts'  Battery  to  the 
time  I  was  shot,  not  more  than  five  or  eight  minutes  had 
expired.  What  we  did,  we  did  quick  and  without  cere 
mony,  and  if  we  could  have  kept  them  off  from  us  half  a 
minute  longer  we  would  have  been  safe.  As  soon  as  we 
got  back  to  the  regiment  and  I  realized  the  fact  that  I 
could  not  walk  and  was  bleeding  very  fast,  I  took  my  sus 
penders  off  and  tied  them  as  tight  as  I  could  above  the 
wound,  to  keep  from  bleeding  to  death  ;  and  at  the  same 
time  asked  Lieutenant  Holtzborn,  who  happened  to  see 
me,  to  have  some  one  assist  me  to  the  rear.  This  was  dur 
ing  some  change  of  position  of  the  regiment. 

"  He  ordered  Sergeant  Dudley  and  Private  Durfee,  a  twin 
brother  of  the  one  who  had  just  been  killed,  to  carry  me 
off.  I  put  an  arm  round  each  of  their  necks  and  held  on 
to  them  as  they  hurriedly  walked  along. 


GOING  TO  THE  REAR.  O 

GOING  TO  THE  REAR. 

"  The  regiment  was  still  fighting,  and  at  this  time  a 
mounted  officer,  with  his  reins  in  one  hand  and  a  big  navy 
revolver  in  the  other,  rode'  by  us  on  a  dead  run  ;  turning 
round  in  his  saddle  he  hollered  out,  '  Men  of  Minnesota, 
for  God's  sake  don't  disgrace  your  State  !  '- — and  he  was 
off  for  Washington  or  some  other  safe  place  as  fast  as  his 
big  bay  horse  could  carry  him.  It  was  an  ocular  and  com 
plete  demonstration  of  the  advice  a  father  gave  to  his  son, 
'  Do  as  I  say,  but  not  as  I  do.' 

"  As  soon  as  we  got  to  the  foot  of  a  little  hill  I  fainted 
away  on  a  spot  where  some  horses  had  been  standing.  I 
was  brought  to  by  Dudley  throwing  some  dirty  water  in 
my  face.  This  immediately  straightened  me  up,  and  taking 
hold  of  them  as  before  we  hurriedly  moved  off.  By  the 
time  they  got  me  to  a  house,  which  was  being  used  as  a 
temporary  hospital,  I  began  to  feel  sick  at  my  stomach  and 
very  faint.  Surgeons  were  dressing  the  wounds  of  some 
of  Ellsworth's  Zouaves,  Michigan  and  Massachusetts  men, 
and  giving  them  stimulants.  They  gave  me  two  or  three 
swallows,  which  settled  my  stomach  and  made  me  feel  bet 
ter.  The  next  thing  I  knew  I  was  being  pulled  up  and 
yanked  along  as  fast  as  we  could  go.  All  commenced  to 
move  along  at  a  break-neck  gait.  The  retreat  had  com 
menced.  And  of  all  the  helter-skelter,  pell-mell,  dcvil-take- 
the-hindmost  gang  I  ever  saw,  or  heard  tell  of,  or  ever  read 
about,  that  crazy  crowd  beat  them  all.  They  all  went  as  if 
a  cyclone  had  struck  them.  All  was  confusion,  all  disorder 
and  every  one  acted  as  if  the  Johnnies  were  determined  to 
have  a  Yankee  apiece  for  supper;  and  some  of  them  would 


I  o  A  MINNESO  TA  BOY'S  FIRS  T  BA  TTL  E. 

pass  by  and  look  at  the  wounded  that  were  being  carried 
and  helped  off,  as  much  as  to  say,  *  They  can  have  you,  but 
by  golly  they  shan't  catch  me  ! '  I  don't  believe  there  was 
ever  a  greater  stampede  of  troops  than  there  was  between 
that  house  and  the  bridge.  Dudley  and  Durfee  saved  my 
life  without  a  doubt.  Durfee  would  have  abandoned  me  to 
Dudley's  charge  some  time  before  if  I  had  told  him  the 
truth  about  his  brother,  about  whom  he  was  constantly  in 
quiring.  And  here  was  an  instance  where  '  evasion  '  seemed 
better  than  telling  the  truth.  His  brother,  as  brave  and 
daring  a  fellow  as  ever  shouldered  a  musket,  and  very  quiet 
and  modest  at  all  times,  made  a  remark  just  before  I 
grabbed  the  colors  out  of  the  color-bearer's  hands  that  I 
shall  never  forget.  'Sergeant,'  said  he,  'when  you  take 
it,  hold  on  to  it,'  and  in  less  than  half  a  minute  he  was 
shot  dead.  Had  I  told  his  brother  he  had  been  killed  or 
wounded  he  would  have  returned  to  his  assistance  immedi 
ately,  and  that  would  have  been  the  last  of  me. 

"  I  was  the  only  one  of  the  three  that  had  any  money, 
and  we  finally  succeeded,  after  several  attempts,  in  per 
suading  a  teamster,  with  a  four-horse  wagon,  to  let  them 
put  me  on  the  off-wheel  horse,  by  giving  him  four  one-dol 
lar  gold  pieces  and  some  sutler's  tickets.  Dudley  remarked, 
'  Give  him  all  you  have  got,  as  we  might  as  well  get  broke 
here  as  anywhere.'  Riding  the  off-wheel  horse  brought 
my  wounded  left  leg  between  the  two  horses  and  on  top 
of  the  wagon  tongue  ;  this  caused  me  so  much  pain,  I  had 
to  turn  round  on  the  horse  so  as  not  to  have  my  leg  hurt 
between  the  two  horses.  With  one  hand  holding  on  to 
the  root  of  his  tail,  and  the  other  hand  behind  me  grasping 


A  FAMOUS  KE TREAT.  j  , 

the  end  of  the  names,  bare-headed,  with  a  heavy  red 
woollen  shirt  on  (the  whole  regiment  wore  blue  and  red 
flannel  shirts),  all  open  at  the  collar  and  the  sleeves  rolled 
up,  my  face  covered  with  blood  and  dirt,  hair  sticking 
straight  up  and  matted  full  of  old  leaves  and  grass  and 
'sacred  soil,'  and  with  the  worst  looking  wounded  leg 
you  ever  saw,  you  can  imagine  what  a  pitiful  but  ludicrous 
sight  I  must  have  presented.  There  must  be  lots  of  men 
living  yet  who  saw  me  just  as  I  have  described.  I  am  sure 
I  have  not  half  described  my  appearance  on  that  horse. 

A  FAMOUS  RETREAT. 

"  Everybody  was  hollering  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and 
every  one  was  running  or  trying  to  run.  The  road  was  full 
of  troops,  wagons,  ambulances,  artillery  and  some  private 
conveyances  ;  all  going  as  fast  as  they  could  go  and  acting 
just  as  if  the  whole  Confederate  Army  was  at  their  heels 
with  fixed  bayonets.  The  Rebs  were  shelling  us  and 
everything  was  at  the  height  of  confounded  confusion. 
No  one  knew  or  cared  anything  about  any  one  except 
themselves.  The  cursing  and  yelling  of  the  teamsters,  the 
pushing  of  those  whose  passage  was  being  obstructed,  and 
the  groans  and  appeals  for  assistance  from  the  wounded,  all 
tended  to  make  one  believe  that,  as  the  teamster  said, 
1  H— 11  had  broke  loose/ 

"  We  arrived  at  the  bridge  a  little  before  sundown.  As  its 
passage  was  obstructed  by  a  big  gun  or  caisson,  and  as  we 
were  being  heavily  shelled  at  that  point,  madness  and  con 
fusion  reigned  supreme.  The  teamster  could  go  no  fur 
ther.  He  jumped  off  his  horse  (he  rode  and  drove  with  a 


12  A  MINNESOTA  BOY^S  FIRST  BATTLE. 

jerk-rein),  unhitched  the  near  leader,  cut  the  jerk-rein  and 
away  he  went  across  the  stream.  The  wagon  was  full  of 
wounded,  with  pick-axes  and  shovels  for  a  bed.  All  of  the 
wounded  were  begging  to  be  helped  across  the  Bull  Run,  a 
stream  about  eight  or  ten  feet  deep,  and  about  twenty  feet 
wide  at  that  place.  Just  as  the  teamster  mounted  his 
horse  one  of  the  men  in  the  wagon,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling, 
jumped  out,  and  with  one  hand  commenced  unhitching  the 
saddle-horse.  I  at  the  same  time  reached  over  my  horse's 
haunches  and  unhooked  both  his  traces,  and  at  the  same 
time  appealed  to  the  fellow  to  unfasten  my  horse's  pole- 
chain  ;  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  do  it,  as  I  was  back 
wards  on  my  horse.  He  did  so,  and  as  luck  would  have  it 
the  chain  unhooked  at  the  first  pull  ;  he  instantly  mounted 
his  horse,  and  turning  around  to  the  left  rode  into  the 
stream.  My  horse,  being  the  mate,  jumped  over  the 
tongue  of  the  wagon  and  followed  him.  The  horses  seemed 
as  anxious  to  get  away  as  the  panic-stricken  soldiers.  Men 
and  horses  were  in  the  stream  plunging  for  the  other  side. 

"As  I  was  crossing,  one  of  the  Zouaves  caught  me  by  the 
wounded  leg,  with  a  view,  I  presume,  of  getting  across.  It 
hurt  me  so,  I  let  go  the  horse's  tail  and  gave  him  a  punch 
in  the  head  with  my  fist  which  loosened  his  hold  on  me 
very  quick;  before  I  resumed  my  tail-hold  the  horse  was 
across  and  had  struck  into  a  gallop,  following  close  to  his 
mate.  At  that  time  a  shell  passed  so  close  to  his  head  he 
threw  it  up  as  if  he  had  been  suddenly  jerked  by  the  bit. 
That  started  the  horses  into  a  run,  and  I  certainly  thought 
I  would  be  knocked  off  my  beast  as  he  galloped  so  fast 
under  the  low  branches  of  the  trees,  raking  and  scratching 


JOHN  GILPIN  OUTDONE.  j  , 

me  on  the  back  ;  at  times  it  felt  as  if  I  had  been  struck 
with  a  club,  but  the  tail-hold  and  harness  saved  me.  Pain 
and  Fear  were  riding  for  life,  with  chances  now  in  favor  of 
the  latter  ;  you  may  be  sure  I  was  not  going  to  lose  the 
race  by  being  pulled  off.  I  believe  the  distance  from  Bull 
Run  to  Centerville  is  about  six  miles.  I  think  the  bridge 
where  we  crossed  was  about  two  miles  from  the  battlefield, 
so  I  must  have  ridden  that  horse  backwards  about  four 
miles— the  most  of  the  time  as  fast  as  he  could  go.  We 
did  not  stop  for  anything — neither  ditches  nor  fences.  If 
the  one-armed  wounded  soldier  that  rode  my  horse's  mate 
fought  as  vigorously  as  he  rode,  he  certainly  knocked  out 
more  than  one  '  Gray-back.'  I  did  not  once  have  my 
horse's  bridle-rein  in  my  hand.  I  never  saw  my  friend 
before  nor  since,  and  the  only  words  we  -exchanged  with 
one  another  were  when  he  told  me  his  horse  was  running 
away,  and  I  said,  '  For  God's  sake,  let  him  go  ! ' 

"  We  arrived  at  Centerville  about  nine  o'clock  at  night. 
I  was  helped  off  the  horse  by  a  regimental  surgeon  under 
some  trees.  The  poor  old  horse  was  nearly  exhausted,  but 
was  immediately  remounted  by  a  soldier  who  rode  off. 
Surgeons  were  taking  care  of  the  wounded.  They  looked 
at  my  wound  and  told  me  I  had  better  have  my  leg  ampu 
tated  at  once,  but  I  would  not  consent  to  it.  I  was  suffer 
ing  very  much  from  pain,  and  was  nearly  exhausted  from 
loss  of  blood  ;  nothing  in  the  world  kept  me  up  but  excite 
ment.  A  four-horse  wagon  drove  up  and  the  soldiers  that 
were  being  cared  for  were  helped  in.  The  confusion  and 
hurry  was  still  great.  I  begged  them  to  let  me  get  in  the 
wagon,  but  an  officer  refused,  saying  there  was  no  room 


1 4  A  MINNESO  TA  BOY'S  FIRS  T  BA  TTL  E. 

for  me.  I  crawled  to  the  wagon  and  got  in  over  the  front 
wheel  while  the  others  were  being  helped  in  the  back  end. 
I  stayed  in  the  wagon,  although  I  was  ordered  out  two  or 
three  times  ;  they  were  in  too  big  a  hurry  to  put  me  out. 
Off  they  drove  as  fast  as  they  could  get  along.  There 
were  seven  of  us  in  the  wagon,  all  badly  wounded  ;  the 
driver  and  a  soldier  on  the  seat  with  him  were  not 
wounded  :  one  drove  and  hollered,  while  the  other 
whipped  and  cursed.  It  was  very  dark  and  I  think  it  was 
raining.  The  road  was  still  full  of  wagons,  ambulances  and 
straggling  troops.  We  would  go  very  fast  at  times,  and 
then  would  stop  for  a  few  minutes  until  the  teams  ahead  of 
us  moved  on.  I  think  the  driver  was  the  worst  scared  of 
all  of  us,  for  he  tried  to  drive  by,  and  drive  over,  every 
thing ;  up  hill  and  down,  over  stumps,  logs  and  rocks;  we 
were  continually  being  thrown  or  tossed  from  one  side  of 
the  wagon  to  the  other. 

THE  SILENT  PASSENGER. 

"  We  arrived  at  Fairfax  Court  House  about  midnight.  I 
laid  my  head  on  a  big  fat  fellow  who  had  sprawled  out  at 
full  length  on  the  bottom  of  the  wagon.  We  had  been 
quarrelling  all  night  about  interfering  with  one  another's 
wounds.  I  supposed  the  fat  fellow  had  gone  to  sleep,  and 
taking  advantage  of  his  position  I  laid  my  head  on  his 
stomach  and  immediately  went  to  sleep  myself.  I  thought 
it  was  the  softest  pillow  I  ever  used.  I  don't  know  how 
long  I  laid  there — perhaps  half  an  hour  ;  we  all  went  to 
sleep.  We  were  awakened  by  being  jolted  about  in  the 
wagon,  which  was  going  down  hill  at  a  lively  gait  ;  all  were 


THE  SILENT  PASSENGER.  l  ^ 

complaining  about  our  wounds ;  two  or  three  were  groan 
ing  and  whining.  When  the  team  would  walk  we  would 
all  go  to  sleep  again — two  or  three  of  us  using  the  fat  fel 
low  as  a  pillow  as  before.  I  had  a  dispute  with  one  of  the 
men  about  my  place  on  the  fat  fellow's  stomach  and  made 
him  move  his  head  along  and  I  resumed  my  former  place. 
We  laid  as  best  we  could  in  that  position  until  daylight, 
when  we  discovered  we  had  been  using  a  dead  man  for  a 
pillow ;  the  poor  fellow  had  died  about  the  time  we  left 
Fairfax,  as  he  was  very  quiet  at  that  place.  I  thought,  the 
last  time  I  laid  my  head  on  him,  what  a  clever  fellow  he 
was  to  let  us  have  such  a  comfortable  position,  and  was 
sorry  I  had  quarrelled  with  him  the  early  part  of  the  night. 
We  kept  him  in  the  wagon  until  just  before  we  arrived  at 
the  Long  Bridge.  Our  pain  and  exhaustion  silenced  any 
scruples  we  otherwise  would  have  had  on  such  an  occasion. 
"  We  were  delayed  at  the  bridge  some  time  by  the  wagons 
and  troops  crossing.  We  got  on  the  bridge  about  half 
past  nine  or  ten  o'clock,  and  must  have  been  an  hour  cross 
ing.  When  we  arrived  on  Pennsylvania  Avenue  it  was 
raining.  The  street  was  full  of  transportation  of  all  kinds, 
and  soldiers  ;  all  moving  in  different  directions.  The  six  of 
us  left  in  the  wagon  were  completely  worn  out  and  ex 
hausted  from  hunger,  loss  of  blood,  and  neglect.  My  leg 
was  very  much  swollen  and  very  painful.  The  wagon 
stopped  between  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  streets.  Some 
ladies  passed  some  wine  into  the  wagon  under  the  cover. 
All  drank  what  they  wanted.  I  drank  a  tin  cup  full  ;  it 
was  delicious,  but  made  me  drunk  immediately.  I  did  not 
see  the  ladies,  but  the  hand  that  passed  the  wine  to  me 


1 6  A  MINNESOTA  BOY'S  FIRST  BATTLE. 

was  small  and  white,  with  a  silken  sleeve,  and  with  dia 
monds  on  the  fingers.  The  ladies  also  passed  in  some  cold 
meat  and  bread,  but  we  had  no  use  then  for  bread  or  meat, 
as  the  wine  was  food  and  raiment. 

"  We  remained  on  the  avenue  about  an  hour  before  it  was 
decided  where  to  take  us.  Finally  we  were  ordered  to  the 
E  Street  Hospital,  where  we  were  taken  out  of  the  wagon 
and  surrounded  by  a  large  crowd  of  men,  women  and  chil 
dren,  some  laughing  and  others  pitying  the  appearance  of 
the  wounded  as  they  were  being  carried  into  the  hospital. 
I  was  laid  on  a  bed  in  a  large  room  filled  with  wounded, 
mostly  from  the  New  York,  New  Hampshire  and  Massa 
chusetts  regiments.  As  soon  as  I  was  laid  down,  one  of 
the  Sisters  of  Mercy  who  were  in  attendance — God  bless 
them — commenced  washing  my  face  with  cold  water.  It 
was  a  delightful  sensation  and  I  immediately  fell  asleep. 

"  When  I  woke  up  the  doctors  were  around  my  bed  ex 
amining  my  wound  and  deciding  whether  they  would  ampu 
tate  it  above  or  below  the  knee.  I  would  not  consent  to 
amputation  and  they  left  me  in  charge  of  an  attendant. 

HOSPITAL  MEMORIES. 

"  The  New  York  papers  contained  a  list  of  dead  and 
wounded  ;  my  name  appeared  among  the  list  of  dead.  My 
father  telegraphed  the  late  Senator  Grimes  of  Iowa,  who  was 
at  that  time  a  senator  from  that  State,  to  find  out,  if  he 
could,  if  I  was  dead  or  alive.  The  Senator  learned  I  was 
in  the  E  Street  Hospital,  and  called  on  me  Wednesday 
morning.  As  I  had  never  seen  him  before,  he  introduced 
himself  and  made  known  his  errand;  after  a  few  minutes 


HOSPITAL  MEMORIES.  t- 

cheerful  conversation  he  bade  me  good-by  and  left.  He 
immediately  wrote  to  my  father,  and  in  a  portion  of  his  let 
ter  he  said : 

"  '  I  found  your  son,  Sergeant  Merritt,  Wednesday  morn 
ing,  in  the  E  Street  Hospital.  He  is  badly  wounded  in  the 
leg  but  seemed  very  cheerful  when  he  told  me  the  doctors 
had  decided  not  to  amputate  it.  He  is  a  fine-looking 
young  man,  and  when  these  trying  times  are  over  I  hope 
his  parents  may  again  have  the  pleasure  of  taking  to  their 
bosom  their  brave  and  honored  son.'  Ex-Senator  Windom, 
then  a  member  from  Minnesota  in  the  House  of  Represent 
atives,  often  called  to  see  me  at  the  hospital,  and  was 
exceedingly  kind  in  every  respect. 

"  The  chaplain  of  our  regiment  called  everyday.  He  was 
very  deaf  and  very  much  devoted  to  my  spiritual  welfare. 
He  would  come  right  up  to  the  bed  holding  a  Bible  in  his 
hands,  and  put  his  mouth  down  to  my  ear  and  say  in 
a  loud  voice,  (  Good-morning,  Sergeant.  How  did  you 
sleep  last  night,  Sergeant?  Do  you  think  you  are  im 
proving,  Sergeant?  Let  us  pray;  '  and  down  on  his  knees 
he  would  get  and  pray  for  about  five  minutes,  invoking 
especial  aid  and  blessing  on  all  of  the  wounded  of  the  1st 
Minnesota  Regiment,  and  would  wind  up  by  saying  he 
hoped  I  would  '  soon  be  able  to  report  for  duty  to  the  reg 
iment.  Amen!  Amen  !  '  He  would  get  up,  take  up  his  cap 
and  get  out  as  quick  as  he  came  in.  He  was  a  good  man, 
but  it  was  the  same  questions  and  same  prayers  every 
morning  except  Sundays,  when  he  would  include  for  special 
blessing  the  soldier  in  the  bed  next  to  me. 


!  8  A  MINATESO TA  BO  Y'S  FIRST  BA  TTLE, 

0 

"  John  Heenan,  the  pugilist,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Decker,  ex-chief  of  the  fire  department  of  New  York,  called 
frequently  to  see  one  of  the  Zouaves,  an  old  friend  of  theirs 
who  laid  in  a  bed  next  to  me.  I  got  well  acquainted  with 
Heenan.  They  would  sit,  one  on  my  bed  and  the  other  on 
their  friend's  bed,  and  talk  for  half  an  hour  or  so,  and 
always  bring  some  little  delicacies.  Heenan  told  me,  one 
morning,  he  understood  I  had  captured  a  Rebel  flag  at  Bull 
Run,  and  asked  me  what  I  had  done  with  it.  I  pulled  off 
the  sheet  and  wet  cloth  on  my  wound  and  pointing  to  it 
said,  '  I  traded  it  off  for  that  ! '  The  sight  of  it  made  him 
sick  at  his  stomach  and  he  left  the  hospital.  In  two  or 
three  days  they  came  in  again,  and  as  Heenan  approached 
the  bed  he  threw  up  both  hands  and  said,  laughing,  *  No 
more  leg ! '  After  a  few  minutes  I  asked  him  if  he  would 
like  to  enlist  in  my  regiment.  He  said,  '  No,  indeed  ;  from 
what  I  have  seen/  looking  toward  my  leg,  *  I  can  do  better 
fighting  in  the  Ring  than  in  the  Field.'  He  was  a  fine- 
looking,  clever  fellow,  and  looked  and  acted  more  like  a 
gentleman  than  a  prize  fighter. 

"  While  we  were  in  camp  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  before  we 
went  to  Centerville,  we  would  occasionally  do  guard  duty 
there.  I  was  relieving  guard  one  morning  with  a  file  of 
men,  and  on  passing  an  open  door  of  a  private  residence, 
there  stood  a  couple  of  young  girls,  about  sixteen  or  eight 
een  years  old,  laughing  and  making  fun  of  the  Yankee 
soldiers.  One .  of  them  had  on  an  apron  representing  the 
Confederate  flag.  I  halted  the  men  and  told  her  to  take 
it  off.  She  said,  'You  long-legged,  hateful  Yankee,  I 
wouldn't  take  it  off  to  save  your  good-for-nothing  life  ;  '  and 


THE  REWARD  OF  MERIT.  ^ 

both  of  the  girls  glared  at  us  defiantly.     We  all  laughed  at 
their  pluck  and  moved  on." 

THE  REWARD  OF  MERIT, 

Sergeant  Merritt  remained  in  hospital  about  thirty  days, 
when,  having  recovered  from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  in  Maryland.  His  record  shows  that  he  served 
with  characteristic  gallantry  during  the  remainder  of  the 
war,  and  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  famous  Second 
Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Long  after  the  events  which  he  has  described,  he  received 
the  bronze  medal,  with  a  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy: 

J 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  April  i,  1880. 

IR:  I  transmit  to  you  the  en 
closed  Medal  of  Honor,  which,  as 
the  inscription  shows,  is  from 
44  The  Congress  to  Sergeant  John 
G.  Merritt,  Co.  K,  1st  Minnesota 
Volunteers." 

This  medal  is  awarded  to  you 
under  the  provisions  of  law  for 
gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  in  July,  1861,  where 
you  were  wounded  while  in  advance  of  your  regiment. 

In  connection  with  this  award  I  find  occasion  to  remem 
ber  v/ith  renewed  pleasure  and  gratitude  the  patriotism  of" 


20 


A  MINNESOTA  BOY'S  FIRST  BATTLE. 


Minnesota's  citizens,  who  in  answer  to  my  call  as  Governor, 
at  the  first  dawn  of  the  war  period,  valiantly  responded  with 
the  cheers,  the  trumpets  and  the  drums  of  the  First  Minne 
sota  Regiment,  of  which  you  were  a  member. 

ALEX.  RAMSEY, 

Secretary  of  War. 


SERGEANT   EDWARD   BROWNE, 

SIXTY-SECOND    N.    Y     INFANTRY. 


"FIGHTING   JOE'S"  MEN. 

IT  is  well  known  to  veterans  that  Major-General  Joseph 
Hooker,  at  one  time  commander  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  was  affectionately  called  "  Fighting  Joe,"  on  ac 
count  of  the  dashing  manner  in  which  he  habitually  led  his 
division  in  battle.  In  fact,  wherever  he  was  acting  as  a 
subordinate  commander — not  weighed  down  with  the  re 
sponsibility  of  an  independent  army — he  was  enterprising, 
energetic,  cool-headed  and  vigorous  in  the  performance  of 
his  duty. 

In  an  evil  hour  President  Lincoln,  deeming  General 
Hooker  available,  promoted  him  to  the  command  of  an 
army  of  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  men. 

While  the  army  was  in  camp,  and  required  only  to  be 
clothed  and  fed  and  disciplined,  its  new  leader  was  equal  to 

22 


CHANCELLORS  VILLE.  2  - 

the  occasion  and  greatly  improved  the  condition  of  the 
troops.  But  when  called  upon  to  manoeuvre  this  armed 
host  in  a  wilderness,  in  presence  of  the  enemy  and  of  the 
chosen  champion  of  the  Southern  cause,  "  Fighting  Joe's" 
powers  seemed  paralyzed,  his  sword  no  longer  flashed  in 
the  charge,  his  voice  no  longer  rang  in  clarion  tones,  "  For 
ward  !  "  His  counsel  seemed  weak  and  uncertain,  and  his 
movements  those  of  one  groping  in  the  dark. 

The  battle  of  Chancellorsville  was  "Fighting  Joe's" 
Waterloo,  as  the  general  of  an  army,  although  he  lived  to 
win  fresh  laurels  as  a  corps  commander  in  the  memorable 
"  battle  above  the  clouds."  This  is  not  the  place  to  enlarge 
upon  the  mistakes  of  leaders,  however,  beyond  brief  men 
tion  of  the  operations  in  which  there  was  the  usual  propor 
tion  of  individual  gallantry  among  the  rank  and  file.  The 
battle  of  Chancellorsville  is  famous  as  the  spot  where 
"  Stonewall  Jackson  "  met  his  death  in  the  hour  of  his 
triumph,  just  as  he  had  given  a  crushing  blow  to  the  right 
flank  of  the  Union  army.  The  operations  on  the  left  of  the 
Union  line,  although  more  creditable,  were  of  no  avail  in  the 
end,  excepting  as  they  inspired  the  enemy  with  a  respectful 
caution  in  following  up  Hooker's  retreat  to  his  old  camps 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rappahannock. 

If  the  army  commander  was  wanting  at  Chancellorsville, 
his  subordinates,  generally,  were  equal  to  the  emergency. 

The  operations  on  the  Union  left  were  controlled  by 
General  Sedgwick.  One  of  his  brave  men,  a  survivor  of  the 
Great  Rebellion,  Sergeant  EDWARD  BROWNE,  Co.  "  G," 
62d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry,  gives  an  interesting  sketch  of  his 
recollections  on  that  occasion. 


24  "  FIGHTING  JOE'S"  MEN. 

I.   THE   AFFAIR   OF   SALEM    HEIGHTS. 

"  While  ordinarily  it  is  not  agreeable  to  me  (not  to  say 
indelicate)  to  write  of  myself,  and  to  speak  of  a  distinction 
which  fell  to  my  lot,  I  confess  my  pride  in  being  the  holder 
of  a  Medal  of  Honor,  conferred  by  the  Congress  of  our 
grand  country,  in  recognition  of  alleged  merit ;  and  to 
enable  you  to  determine  whether  the  acts,  for  which  my 
then  superior  officers  thought  fit  to  commend  me,  are  wor 
thy  of  being  recorded,  I  will  briefly  narrate  events. 

"  It  was  on  the  morning  of  May  3,  or  4  (I  am  un 
certain  as  to  the  date),  General  Hooker  was  at  Chancellors- 
ville.  General  Sedgwick,  with  the  Sixth  Corps,  crossed  to 
the  right  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  about  three  miles 
below  Fredericksburg,  and  took  up  his  line  of  march  tow 
ard  that  city.  The  advance,  after  considerable  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  Confederates,  entered  the  city  just  before 
daybreak  and  drove  the  enemy  from,  and  quite  a  distance 
beyond,  the  city.  My  recollection. is  that  the  enemy  found 
refuge  behind  a  stone  wall  at  the  base  of  the  heights  back 
of  the  city.  Be  that  as  it  may,  at  daylight  six  companies 
of  the  62d  Regiment  were  thrown  in  advance  to  uncover 
the  enemy  if  behind  the  wall.  I  was  with  the  color-guard 
at  the  time.  We  advanced  in  line  of  battle  until  we  came 
within  the  enemy's  works,  which  formed  a  circle  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill,  and  uncovered  the  enemy.  But  we  reached 
there  through  a  murderous  fire  of  small  arms  at  point-blank 
range,  opened  upon  our  front  and  flanks,  and  it  seemed  like 
going  to  sure  destruction.  Our  men  were  literally  mowed 
down.  Those  of  us  who  were  not  incapacitated  sought  the 


SALEM  HEIGHTS.  25 

cover  of  the  city  as  soon  as  we  could.  The  color-bearer  was 
injured  in  the  engagement,  but  my  comrades  and  I  brought 
him  back  with  the  colors.  Upon  our  return  to  the  city  the 
remaining  companies  of  the  regiment  were  brought  up,  and 
the  regiment  re-formed.  The  colors  were  entrusted  to  me. 
About  noon  we  were  in  line  of  battle  for  the  charge  which 
carried  the  stone  wall  and  the  heights  beyond.  I  was 
among  the  first  upon  the  wall  with  the  colors,  and  kept 
them  flying  until  we  reached  the  top  of  the  heights  and  the 
enemy  were  routed. 

"  In  the  afternoon  we  pressed  forward,  after  having  re 
formed  our  columns,  to  Salem  Church  or  Heights,  about 
four  miles  to  the  rear  of  Marye's  Heights,  where,  in  a  belt 
of  woods,  our  advance  became  engaged  with  what  we  sup 
posed  to  be  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy.  We  afterwards 
learned  that  it  was  a  part  of  Lee's  forces  on  their  return 
from  Chancellorsville.  The  62d  Regiment  was  in  the  sec 
ond  line  of  battle  supporting  a  battery,  with  its  right  rest 
ing  on  the  road  from  Fredericksburg.  Generals  Newton 
and  Wheaton  were  close  by,  mounted.  Suddenly  our  boys 
came  in  hurried  retreat  from  the  woods,  followed  by  the 
enemy  in  good  form.  I  was  at  that  time  in  front  of  the 
line  waving  the  colors,  when,  on  turning  to  the  right,  I 
observed  a  line  of  the  enemy  emerging  from  a  belt  of  woods 
in  that  direction,  and  called  the  colonel's  attention  to  it. 
While  doing  so  I  was  wounded  in  the  side.  The  colonel 
noticed  that  I  was  wounded  and  suggested  my  retirement 
to  the  rear.  But  the  boys  were  coming  across  the  wide 
open  between  the  woods  and  our  line,  and  I  remained  with 
colors  open  so  that  they  might  know  they  had  something 


26  "  FIGHTING  JOE'S  "  MEN. 

to  rally  about,  and  to  show  the  enemy  that  we  were  not  in 
a  panic.  I  remained  at  my  post  until  the  boys  had  crossed 
the  open  and  were  within  our  lines,  and  the  enemy  had 
been  brought  to  a  halt  by  our  fire.  Then  the  colonel,  C. 
B.  Hamilton  (God  bless  him  !  a  nobler  man  never  breathed), 
commanded  me  to  give  up  the  colors  and  get  to  the  hos 
pital.  I  transferred  the  colors — they  were  not  dropped,  but 
held  up  while  being  transferred — to  a  noble  fellow,  who 
afterwards  fell  under  them ;  and  after  the  enemy's  line  was 
broken  and  they  had  retired  to  the  woods  whence  they 
came,  late  in  the  afternoon,  I  went  to  the  field  hospital. 
On  the  following  day  I  crossed  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river, 
and  from  a  safe  position,  in  the  stone  house  which  served  as 
a  hospital,  I  saw  the  battle. 

"  I  returned  to  my  regiment  as  soon  as  my  wound  healed, 
and  was  with  it  in  all  engagements  up  to  the  fight  before 
Washington  in  '64.  I  was  made  sergeant  and  a  commission 
was  offered  me,  but  I  declined  the  latter  through  lack  of 
appreciation  of  its  worth.  I  was  breveted  2d  and  1st 
Lieutenant  and  Captain  in  New  York  Volunteers." 

HEADQUARTERS  30  BRIGADE,  30  DIVISION,  6TH  CORPS, 

CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA.,  May  27,  1863. 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  General  Orders  53,  Par.  i,  Headquarters  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  a  list  of  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates,  whose  gallantry  and  merit  were  conspicuous  and  worthy  of 
especial  notice  during  the  recent  battles  at  Fredericksburg  and  Salem  Heights, 
May  3  and  4,  1863. 

62d  New  York  Vols.,  commanded  by  Lieut.-Col.  Chas.  B.  Hamilton. 
********* 
Corporal  EDWARD  BROWNE,  Co.  "  G,"  is  recommended  for  a  "  medal  "  and 
"  honorable  mention  "  for  good  conduct  at  Fredericksburg  and  Salem  Heights, 
May  3  and  4,  1863.     In  the  second  battle,  May  4,  near  Salem  Heights,  Cor- 


SERGEANT  BROWNE'S  CREDENTIALS.  27 

poral  Browne,  who   carried  the  colors  of  his  regiment,  was  severely  wounded, 
but  continued  at  his  post  under  fire  until  positively  ordered  to  the  rear  by  his 

regimental  commander. 

Very  resp'y  your  obt.  svt., 

(signed)  FRANK  WHEATON, 

GEN.  S.  WILLIAMS,  Brig.-Genl.  U-  S.  A. 

A.  A.  G.  Army  of  the  Potomac. 


A  REGIMENTAL  CERTIFICATE. 

This  is  to  certify  that  Sergt.  EDWARD  BROWNE  was  a  member  of  the  626. 
N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  during  all  the  time  the  regiment  served  he  was  a  brave  and 
efficient  soldier.  He  was  promoted  from  private  to  rank  of  color-sergeant  for 
courage  and  meritorious  conduct  on  many  a  field  of  battle,  and  was  commended 
in  general  orders  for  personal  bravery  at  "  Salem  Heights."  He  was  offered 
a  commission  during  the  latter  part  of  the  campaign,  but  refused  to  accept  it, 
preferring  rather  to  remain  among  his  comrades,  the  non-commissioned  staff 
and  privates  with  whom  he  had  so  gallantly  won  his  promotion,  than  to  enter 
the  ranks  of  commissioned  officers. 

I  would  gladly  recommend  him  to  any  military  position,  knowing  from  expe 
rience  and  personal  knowledge  he  will  fill  it  both  with  honor  to  himself  and  ser 
vice  to  the  cause. 

(signed)  SAM.  C.  STEWART, 

Late  Adjt.  fod  N.  Y.  S.  Vols. 

Sergeant  Browne  has  achieved  an  honorable  position  in 
civil  life,  and  is  now  (1886)  a  Justice  of  the  City  Court  of 
New  York. 


FIGHTING  JOE'S  "  MEN. 


II.    FEELING  FOR  A    "  STONE   WALL." 

After  the  famous  Southern  general, 
Stonewall  Jackson,  had  with  character 
istic  energy  and  skill  attacked  the  right 
flank  of  General  Hooker's  army  and 
caused  the  troops  of  an  entire  corps  to 
retreat  in  confusion,  it  became  necessary 
to  send  out  scouting  parties  in  the  dense 
wilderness  at  night,  to  find  the  enemy. 
One  of  these  parties  was  sent  out  by 
direction  of  General  Berry,  from  the  74th 
New  York  Infantry.  Captain  F.  E.  Tyler 
writes  :  "  As  the  corps  (3d)  to  which  my 
regiment  was  attached  did  not  arrive  at 
Chancellorsville  for  some  time  after  the 
main  army,  we  were  put  in  reserve  a 
short  distance  back  of  the  main  line  and 
near  the  road  from  the  U.  S.  Ford.  About 
-4  P.M.  the  nth  Corps  was  broken  by 
Stonewall  Jackson  and  fell  back  in  great 
confusion.  General  Hooker  ordered  up 
our  division  (Hooker's  old  division)  to  retake  the  line  from 
which  the  nth  was  driven.  As  we  marched  out  we  found 
the  roads  and  woods  full  of  the  fleeing  nth  Corps,  and  had 
to  charge  bayonets  to  clear  a  passage.  We  regained  the 
original  line  of  the  nth  Corps  without  much  trouble,  and 
immediately  proceeded  to  cut  down  trees  to  fortify  our 
position.  I  was  then  the  senior  captain  of  the  regiment 
and  acting  major.  During  the  day  General  Sickles,  who 


SERGEANT   LUTY. 

SEVENTY-FOURTH  N.  Y.  V. 


FELIX  BRANNIGAN.  2^ 

commanded  our  corps  (the  3d),  had  two  divisions  of  the 
corps,  well  out  in  front  of  our  main  lines,  scouting,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  break  of  the  nth  had  not  to  our  knowl 
edge  returned  ;  there  were  also  other  troops  well  advanced 
in  front  of  our  main  lines,  observing  the  movements  of  the 
enemy.  So  it  seemed  important  to  know  just  what  was  in 
our  front,  and  also  to  find  out  what  had  become  of  the 
troops  of  Stonewall  Jackson.  Some  time  about  midnight 
General  Revere,  who  commanded  our  (Sickles')  brigade, 
rode  down  our  line,  and  stopping  at  my  regiment,  asked 
for  the  colonel.  As  he  could  not  be  readily  found  at  that 
time  he  was  referred  to  me,  and  stopping,  asked  me  if  I 
knew  what  troops  of  the  enemy  were  in  our  front,  or  if 
there  were  any.  I  mentioned  the  fact  that  it  was  reported 
that  the  1st  and  3d  divisions  of  our  corps  were  in  front; 
also  the  rumor  that  the  Irish  Brigade  had  been  sent  out  in 
that  direction.  He  then  told  me  that  it  was  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  know  what  was  in  front,  and  ordered  me  to 
pick  out  some  trusty  men  and  send  them  out  to  get  the 
best  information  they  could.  I  went  to  my  old  company 
(A),  and  called  for  FELIX  BRANNIGAN,  who  had  been  with 
me  all  during  the  war,  and  whom  I  knew  from  long  expe 
rience  to  be  a  cool,  courageous,  intelligent  soldier.  I  told 
him  what  I  wanted,  gave  him  my  ideas  as  to  how  to  get 
out  of  the  lines  and  what  to  do,  and  suggested  the  other 
men  whom  he  should  take  along.  They  went  in  twos, 
each  in  a  different  direction,  having  to  pass  our  own  pick 
ets  and  presumably  those  of  the  enemy,  make  their  way 
stealthily  through  the  thickets  and  swamps  and  go  until 
they  found  troops  in  front  ;  either  ours  or  of  the  enemy. 


3Q  "  FIGHTING  JOE'S"  MEN. 

They  had  all  returned  by  daylight,  coming  in  at  different 
times,  the  last  man  coming  in  being  Jos.  GlON,  who  was 
out  so  long  I  greatly  feared  his  death  or  capture.  They 
reported  that  they  had  gone  a  considerable  distance  when 
they  came  to  'an  open/  which  was  occupied  by  a  large  body 
of  troops  ;  by  laying  low  and  getting  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  troops,  who  were  camped  close  to  the  woods,  they 
found  they  were  Stonewall  Jackson's  men,  and  that  they 
intended  to  make  a  determined  effort  at  daylight  to  break 
through  where  they  broke  the  nth  Corps  the  day  before, 
and  push  on  and  secure  possession  of  the  roads  leading  to 
U.  S.  Ford,  thereby  hoping  to  effect  a  capture  of  a  large- 
portion  of  the  Federal  army.  To  prove  the  importance  of 
this  scout,  shortly  after  daylight  Jackson's  troops,  then  led 
by  Stuart  (Jackson  had  fallen  during  the  night),  charged 
our  works,  where  we  held  them  for,  say  two  hours,  when 
we  fell  back  and  formed  a  new  and  shorter  line  just  back 
of  the  Chancellorsville  house.  During  this  fight  my  colonel 
and  lieutenant-colonel  were  both  seriously  wounded,  and 
I  was  in  command  during  the  latter  part  of  the  battle. 
After  we  returned  to  our  camp  across  the  river,  General 
Hooker  ordered  that  each  commanding  officer  report  such 
men  as  were  conspicuous  for  good  conduct.  Under  these 
circumstances  I  made  a  detailed  report  to  General  Hooker's 
adjutant-general,  and  the  men  were  awarded  medals." 

GOTTLIEB  LUTY,  one  of  the  men  selected  for  this  haz 
ardous  service,  and  whose  portrait,  taken  from  a  war-time 
photograph,  heads  this  account,  says  : 

"  On  the  afternoon  in  May,  1863,  when  the  Eleventh 
Corps  was  driven  back,  General  Hooker  ordered  the  second 


GOTTLIEB  LUTY.  ^ 

division  of  the  Third  Corps  to  take  their  place.  We  ad 
vanced  and  took  their  old  position,  which  we  reached  about 
dark.  While  lying  there  we  heard  firing  in  front,  and  Gen 
eral  Berry,  supposing  that  some  of  the  nth  Corps  were 
still  in  advance  yet,  asked  Colonel  Lonesberry  of  the  74th 
N.  Y.  if  he  had  one  or  two  men  who  would  volunteer  to 
go  out  and  see  if  any  were  there,  and  find  out  what  position 
the  rebels  were  in.  There  were  four  of  Company  A,  viz.: 
FELIX  BRANNIGAN,  HENRY  BIERMAN,  Jos.  GION  and 
myself,  and  Sergt.-Major  JACOBSON,  who  volunteered  to 
go.  We  divided  into  two  squads,  Brannigan  and  myself 
going  together,  the  others  going  by  themselves  in  a  differ 
ent  direction.  We  advanced  outside  the  outposts,  prob 
ably  fifty  yards,  close  to  the  plank-road.  We  heard  horses 
coming  down  the  plank-road.  We  concluded  to  drop  and 
await  developments.  They  came  down  to  within  fifteen 
yards  of  us.  When  the  firing  commenced  it  appeared  to 
come  from  all  sides  at  the  same  time.  I  could  not  tell 
from  what  quarter  it  started.  We  found  out  by  the  talk 
that  it  was  a  body  of  rebels  that  rode  down,  and  I 
think  probably  it  was  Gen.  Jackson  and  staff,  as  we  heard 
them  say  the  general  was  shot  just  after  the  firing 
ceased.  As  there  was  only  one  round  fired,  we  had  a  good 
chance  to  hear  all.  After  the  rebels  withdrew,  we  got  up 
and  concluded  to  go  back  to  our  lines,  but  lost  our  way 
and  got  among  the  rebels.  They  were  terribly  excited 
about  General  Jackson  being  shot.  All  was  confusion. 
So  we  quietly  withdrew,  as  it  was  not  very  healthy  for  us 
there.  We  reached  our  lines  about  3  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing.  We  then  heard  that  General  Berry  had  followed  us 


2  2  "  FIGHTING  JOE'S  "  MEN. 

out  and  was  wounded,  and  before  he  died  he  requested 
that  if  any  of  the  men  that  went  out  got  back  they  be 
rewarded  for  their  services.  The  others  returned  later  in 
the  morning.  We  then  fell  back  over  the  Rappahannock 
to  Falmouth." 


MAJOR   WILLIAM    15.    HINCKS, 

FOURTEENTH    CONN.    INFANTRY. 


MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

A  MIDSUMMER  night's  dream.  At  least  all  the  ma 
terials  were  there.  The  moon  bathing  the  corn  and 
wheat  with  mellow  light ;  the  faint  sound  of  church  bells 
wafted  over  the  meadows  from  the  neighboring  town ; 
the  low,  sweet  notes  of  the  whip-poor-will  and  the  ceaseless 
murmur  of  the  brook ;  and  last,  but  necessary  ingredient, 
a  young  girl. 

These  pleasant  sights  and  sounds  centred  in  a  lovely  spot 
in  the  suburbs  of  the  now  historic  town  of  Gettysburg, 
near  the  Emmittsburg  road.  Here  upon  a  little  crest 
stood,  a  few  days  before  the  great  battle,  a  modest  farm 
house,  surrounded  by  out-buildings  bearing  the  usual  Penn 
sylvania  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  mansion  ;  the  great 
red  barn,  with  its  gothic  windows  framed  in  white,  being 
the  best  sign  of  the  owner's  prosperity.  With  the  excep- 
3  33 


34 


AN  AMERICAN  GIRL. 


35 


tion  of  a  few  fine  old  trees  which  shaded  the  house,  there 
was  but  little  timber  on  the  farm.  In  front  of  the  house, 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  a  huge  rock  jutted  out  toward  the 
south  ;  its  top  was  moss-covered,  but  level  as  a  table,  and 
guarded,  sentinel-like,  by  two  large  willow  trees  ;  between 
them  swung  idly  a  hammock,  within  which,  half  reclining, 
and  with  her  face  turned  southward,  was  the  maiden  of  the 
dream. 


THE    DIETRICH    FARM. 


Elinor  Dietrich  was  a  true  American  girl.  Her  father, 
a  hard-fisted,  prosperous  "  Pennsylvania  Dutchman,"  had 
married,  some  twenty  years  before,  the  pretty  daughter  of 
a  Lutheran  clergyman,  who  had  lived  and  labored  and  died 
in  the  somewhat  barren  vineyard  of  a  country  parish,  where 
thistles  grew  more  plentifully  than  grapes.  In  the  only 
child  the  virtues  of  the  parents  seemed  reproduced  :  the 
courage  and  self-reliance  of  the  father,  the  patience,  forti 
tude  and  physical  beauty  of  the  mother.  At  an  early  age 
she  had  been  sent  to  a  famous  Philadelphia  school,  where 
girls  were  not  only  taught  the  accomplishments,  but  also 


36  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

the  domestic  arts  of  life,  and  where  the  experienced  princi 
pal,  herself  a  mother,  took  some  of  her  pupils  into  her 
heart  as  well  as  under  her  roof.  Elinor  was  one  of  the 
favored  few,  and  when  she  returned  home — "finished  "—it 
was  a  pure,  true-hearted  woman  who  was  clasped  to  her 
mother's  breast.  From  a  child  she  had  been  fond  of  out 
door  life,  and  before  she  went  away  to  boarding-school 
could  ride  the  wildest  colt  on  the  place,  and  bring  down  a 
partridge  on  the  wing  with  her  father's  best  double  gun, 
whenever  she  could  persuade  him  to  let  her  share  in  the 
sport.  But  in  all  this  there  was  no  sign  of  the  hoyden — no 
torn-boy  manner. 

Although  Elinor  was  only  nineteen,  she  was  not  heart- 
whole.  Three  years  before,  she  had  met  a  young  student 
from  North  Carolina.  He  was  good-looking,  clever,  and 
after  due  inquiry  was  permitted  to  become  a  suitor.  He 
had  made  a  long  visit  at  the  Dietrich  homestead,  and  all 
seemed  smooth  sailing,  when  the  guns  at  Sumter,  regard 
less  of  lovers'  knots  and  lovers'  sighs,  called  Frank  Arden 
to  what  he  termed  "the  defence  of  the  Old  North  State." 
So  the  usual  vows  were  exchanged  and  the  youth  departed 
for  the  Confederacy.  More  than  two  years  had  passed.  If 
love  laughs  at  locksmiths,  he  certainly  has  but  scant  respect 
for  picket  lines.  At  intervals  a  letter  found  its  way  from 
the  far  South  where  Frank  (now  an  infantry  captain)  was 
fighting  the  invader.  One  day  Elinor  received  a  billet  from 
Richmond,  and  the  writer  spoke  of  the  rumor  that  General 
Lee  would  make  "  an  excursion  into  Pennsylvania  some  of 
these  days,"  and  hoped  that  it  might  come  to  pass.  And 
Lee  had  come,  but  Arden's  regiment  passed  by  on  the 


BUFORD  OPENS  THE  BALL.  ^ 

other  side  of  the  county  and  it  seemed  a  case  of  "  hope 
deferred." 

As  Elinor  mused  over  these  things,  Carlo,  her  pet  terrier, 
lifted  up  his  shrill  voice  in  a  warning  bark.  Shuffling  foot 
steps  came  across  the  lawn  and  a  voice,  strangely  familiar, 
said : 

"  Heh  1  HI  dog,  wha'  fo'  you  go  back  on  yo'  frens?  " 

Elinor  sprang  to  her  feet. 

"  Jim,  is  it  you  ?  " 

"Yesm — yes,  Mis  Elinor;  got  somfin  fum  Mars  Frank. 
Tole  me  to  put  it  in  yo  own  hans." 

And  the  dusty,  travel-worn  negro,  diving  into  the  pocket 
of  his  jacket,  drew  out  a  letter  on  once  white  paper. 

BUFORD  OPENS  THE  BALL. 

The  clock  in  the  tower  of  the  Seminary  marked  the  hour 
of  eight.  The  morning  of  a  day  famous  in  the  annals  of 
American  history  had  arrived — the  first  day  of  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg.  And  yet,  at  the  moment,  there  was  but  lit 
tle  sign  of  war  in  the  landscape,  as  it  lay  spread  out,  smiling 
and  placid  as  far  as  one  could  see.  Just  in  front  of  the 
town  a  few  hundred  horsemen  were  resting  under  tempo 
rary  shelters  of  canvas  or  lounging  under  the  trees,  while 
their  horses  impatiently  stamped  at  the  flies  or,  motionless, 
drew  in  deep  draughts  of  the  clover-scented  air.  They  be 
longed  to  Buford's  division  of  the  cavalry  corps,  Army  of 
the  Potomac  ;  of  that  army  they  were  supposed  to  be  the 
eyes  and  ears ;  their  duty  to  keep  both  wide  open  in  the 
direction  of  the  enemy;  to  report  his  plans  and  movements, 
to  delay  his  advance  and  to  hang  upon  his  rear  in  retreat ; 
and,  besides,  to  do  a  multitude  of  things  not  usually  re- 


MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 


quired  of  cavalry  (in  the  books),  but  which  are  apt  to  fall  to 
the  lot  of  brave,  zealous,  and  intelligent  soldiers — horse  or 
foot — who  happen  to  be  on  the  spot  in  an  emergency. 

All  this  passed  through  the  mind  of  the  advanced  vidette 
on  the  Cashtown  road,  about  two  miles  west  of  Gettysburg. 

He  was  a  bright  young 
farmer  from  Illinois,  and 
a  dragoon  of  nearly  three 
years'  service  ;  it  was  long 
since  he  had  seen  so  fer 
tile  a  vale  as  that  spread 
out  before  him,  and  in 
fancy  he  saw  the  old  home 
farm  and  wondered  how 
the  crops  compared  with 
those  at  his  feet.  But 
he  kept  his  military  eye 
"  peeled,"  and  his  large 
ears  open  at  the  same 
time.  His  position  on  a 
knoll,  in  the  edge  of  a 
grove,  commanded  a  view 
of  the  road  for  several 
miles  in  the  direction  of 
Chambersburg.  Private  Kelly  had  good  eyesight,  and  as 
he  looked  down  the  road  for  the  hundredth  time  since  go 
ing  on  post  that  morning,  his  eye  rested  longer  than  usual 
on  an  object  about  three  miles  away. 

A  moment  decided  him  as  to  its  nature;  it  was  undoubt 
edly  a  horseman,  but  whether  friend  or  foe  it  was  impossi- 


THE  CONFEDERATE  ADl'ANCE. 


39 


ble  to  tell.  Another  glance  revealed  three — six — a  platoon 
at  least,  moving  slowly  along  at  a  walk.  The  man  first 
seen  kept  in  the  middle  of  the  road  ;  a  hundred  yards  be 
hind  him  rode  another  cavalier ;  at  a  similar  distance  in 
rear  came  four  or  five  men,  riding  together,  with  one  in 
front  who  seemed  to  be  in  command.  Private  Kelly  was 
much  interested  in  the  spectacle  ;  he  braced  up  in  his  sad 
dle,  drew  his  horse  back  into  the  shadow  of  the  wood,  and 


THE    ADVANCE    GUARD. 


took  another  look.  The  leading  horseman  had  disappeared 
in  a  little  gorge  through  which  a  small  stream  filtered  un 
der  a  few  boards  crossing  the  road,  and  as  the  breeze  came 
from  that  direction  it  bore  the  muffled  sound  of  hoofs  to 
the  alert  Union  picket.  And  now  a  larger  party  of  horse 
men,  perhaps  twenty,  came  within  his  vision  and  the  flash 
ing  of  something  in  the  sunlight  suggested  an  armed  party; 
on  either  side  of  the  road  and  a  little  in  advance  of  these 
could  also  be  seen  three  or  four  mounted  men  moving 
across  the  fields  in  open  order.  Private  Kelly  could  not 
tell  whether  these  visitors  were  likely  to  be  welcome  or  not, 
and  very  properly  concluded  to  transfer  the  responsibility 
to  other  shoulders.  In  rear  of  the  little  clump  of  trees 


40  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

there  was  an  open  spot,  plainly  visible  to  his  "  reserve,"  and 
not  exposed  to  any  one  coming  from  Cashtown.  Kelly  was 
there  in  a  moment,  riding  his  horse  rapidly  in  a  circle  and 
putting  his  cap  on  the  muzzle  of  his  carbine  as  a  signal 
that  something  was  wrong.  Instantly  this  was  seen  by  the 
sentry  in  front  of  the  picket-guard,  and  in  another  moment 
a  corporal  was  galloping  to  the  front.  "What  is  it, 
Kelly?"  The  vidette  silently  pointed  down  the  road. 
The  horsemen  were  now  only  two  miles  off,  but  some 
distance  in  their  rear  was  a  column  of  footmen,  well  closed 
up,  with  a  cloud  of  skirmishers  in  front,  extending  for  a 
hundred  yards  on  both  sides  of  the  road. 

"  Johnnies!  and  doughboys'*  at  that, — it  must  be  a  divis 
ion  at  least,"  said  the  corporal.  "Well,  Kelly,  you  know 
what  to  do ,  stay  out  as  long  as  you  can,  but  don't  let  them 
gobble  you.  I'll  report  to  the  lieutenant;"  and  back  the 
corporal  sped  with  the  news. 

"  Honest  John,"  as  the  commander  f  of  the  First  Cavalry 
Division  was  affectionately  called  by  his  troopers,  was  sit 
ting  on  a  camp-stool  under  an  old  elm  tree,  which  did  duty  as 
headquarters,  taking  his  after-breakfast  smoke.  The  mod 
est  brier-wood  pipe  was  as  much  a  part  of  his  equipment  as 
the  blue  hunting-shirt  which  General  Buford  invariably 
wore  in  the  field.  The  general  was  not  much  of  a  talker, 
at  least  in  mixed  society,  and  in  this  respect  resembled  the 
Great  Captain  who  sleeps  so  quietly  at  Riverside.  Nothing 
escaped  his  keen  eye,  and  none  was  more  ready  to  recognize 
merit  in  others  or  slower  to  push  his  own  claims  for  pro 
motion. 

*  Cavalry  slang  tor  the  infantry. 
t  Major-General  John  Buford 


THE  FIRST  DA  Y  'S  FIGHT.  *  j 

A  staff-officer  rode  up,  dismounted,  and  saluting  the  gen 
eral  reported  that  the  pickets  of  Gamble's  Brigade  had  just 
observed  the  enemy  in  some  force,  advancing  on  the  Cash- 
town  road.  The  Chief  took  one  or  two  meditative  puffs, 
and  then  removing  his  pipe  said,  "  Give  my  compliments 
to  Colonel  Gamble,  and  tell  him  to  move  out  with  his  com 
mand  and  meet  the  enemy  ;  we  must  keep  him  out  of  the 


GETTYSBURG. — FIRST    DAY. 


town   as   long  as   possible.     Tell   the  colonel   to   keep    me 
posted  as  to  the  enemy's  movements  from  time  to  time." 

In  ten  minutes  Gamble's  Brigade — the  8th  New  York,  8th 
Illinois,  and  part  of  the  3d  Indiana  and  I2th  Illinois  regi 
ments  of  cavalry — about  1900  strong,  with  Tidball's  Bat 
tery  of  the  2d  U.  S.  Artillery  under  Lieutenant  Calef,  was 
moving  into  position.  Three  squadrons,  part  dismounted, 


MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN    BUFORD. 

FIRST  CAVALRY   DIVISION,  ARMY   OF  THE   POTOMAC. 


KEEPING  RESERVED  SEATS.  ^ 

were  sent  to  the  front  and  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  sup 
port  the  squadron  on  picket,  then  falling  back  slowly.  Two 
of  Calef's  three-inch  rifled  guns  were  placed  on  each  side  of 
the  road,  and  two  on  the  right  of  the  left  regiment  of  cav 
alry.  The  enemy  cautiously  approached  in  column  on  the 
road  with  three  extended  lines  on  each  flank,  and  the  artil 
lery  and  skirmishers  became  engaged.  Soon  the  cavalry 
were  forced  back,  giving  ground  very  slowly  considering 
that  the  little  cavalry  brigade  was  standing  up  against  three 
divisions  of  infantry — veterans  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  For  more  than  two  hours  this  unequal  contest 
was  waged.  Under  the  eye  of  one  of  the  best  cavalry 
fighters  in  the  world,  the  Union  troopers  surpassed  all 
previous  efforts.  In  Buford's  own  words,  "  the  brigade  had 
to  be  literally  dragged  back  "  a  few  hundred  yards  to  a 
position  more  secure  and  better  sheltered  ;  at  one  time  the 
enemy  had  a  concentric  fire  upon  the  battery  from  twelve 
guns,  all  at  short  range.  Calef  held  his  own  gloriously, 
worked  his  guns  deliberately,  with  great  judgment  and 
skill,  and  with  wonderful  effect  upon  the  enemy.  Even 
when  the  advance  of  the  First  Corps  came  up,  so  thor 
oughly  had  the  horsemen  warmed  to  their  work,  by  fighting 
on  foot,  that  some  of  the  3d  Indiana  Cavalry  found  horse- 
holders,  borrowed  muskets  and  fought  side  by  side  with 
the  Wisconsin  regiment  of  infantry  which  came  to  relieve 
them.  But  the  work  of  the  cavalry  in  keeping  "  reserved 
seats  "  for  the  grand  bull  fight  was  not  yet  over.  Heavy 
masses  of  the  enemy  were  advancing  upon  Gettysburg 
from  the  north  and  west.  General  Buford  stemmed  the 
hostile  torrent  on  the  northern  side  with  Devin's  Brigade 


44  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

until  the  arrival  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  when,  perceiving 
that  the  portion  of  the  First  Corps  then  engaged  was  sorely 
pressed,  he  sent  Gamble's  Brigade  to  the  left  of  General 
Doubleday's  line.  It  arrived  at  a  critical  moment  and 
rendered  invaluable  service.  Dropping  behind  a  low  stone 
fence,  Gamble's  dismounted  men  delivered,  at  short  range, 
a  repeating-carbine  fire  that  was  perfectly  terrific  and 
caused  the  enemy  to  recoil,  temporarily  discomfited. 

And  now  General  Hancock  arrived  on  the  field  and 
assumed  command,  and  as  the  great  army  corps  came 
up  they  were  assigned  to  positions.  Both  armies — Lee 
with  more  than  70,000  and  Meade  with  more  than  80,000 
soldiers,  the  flower  of  American  manhood — now  prepared 
for  a  terrible  struggle.  The  character  of  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  the  magnificent  display  of  courage  and  en 
durance  on  both  sides,  and  the  nearly  equal  conditions  as 
to  leaders  and  numbers  engaged,  shows  that  the  result  de 
pended  largely  on  position.  The  result  was  therefore  prac 
tically  decided  in  favor  of  the  Union  army  when  John  Bu- 
ford  selected  and  held  on  to  the  ground  where  the  battle 
was  fought.  Well  could  he  modestly  report  that  "  a  heavy 
task  was  before  us;  we  were  equal  to  it  and  shall  all  re 
member  "with  pride  that  at  Gettysburg  we  did  our  country 
much  service." 

JOHN  BURNS'  FIGHT. 

In  the  lull  of  the  fighting  came  a  strange  figure  upon  the 
battlefield.  A  farmer-like  person  with  homespun  clothes 
of  an  ancient  cut,  well  patched  and  darned,  carrying  in  his 
hand  an  old  Kentucky  rifle  with  an  immensely  long  barrel, 


JOHN  BURNS. 


45 


and  weighing  almost  as  much  as  a  light  field-gun.  Ap 
proaching  the  commanding  officer  of  a  Pennsylvania  brig 
ade,  he  asked  permission  to  go  on  the  skirmish  line.  After 
vain  attempts  to  dissuade  the  old  man,  he  was  finally 
allowed  to  join  the  soldiers  in  the  front,  where  he  remained 


JOHN    BURNS. 

during  the  entire  battle,  picking  off  the  Confederates  from 
time  to  time  as  he  saw  a  chance,  utterly  unmindful  of  the 
bullets  which  buzzed  about  his  ears. 

This  man  was  John  Burns,  a  resident  of  Gettysburg. 
Bret  Harte  tells  the  story  in  verse,  from  which  an  extract 
may  be  proper  : 

"  Have  you  heard  the  story  the  gossips  tell 
Of  John  Burns,  of  Gettysburg  ?     No  ?     Ah,  well, 
Brief  is  the  glory  that  hero  earns, 
Briefer  the  story  of  poor  John  Burns  ; 
He  was  the  fellow  who  won  renown — 


46  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

The  only  man  who  didn't  back  down 

When  the  rebels  rode  through  his  native  town; 

But  held  his  own  in  the  fight  next  day, 

When  all  his  townsfolk  ran  away. 

That  was  in  July,  sixty-three — 

The  very  day  that  General  Lee, 

The  flower  of  Southern  chivalry, 

Baffled  and  beaten,  backward  reeled 

From  a  stubborn  Meade  and  a  barren  field. 

********* 

How  do  you  think  the  man  was  dressed  ? 

He  wore  an  ancient,  long,  buff  vest — 

Yellow  as  saffron,  but  his  best ; 

And  buttoned  over  his  manly  breast 

Was  a  bright  blue  coat  with  a  rolling  collar 

And  large  gilt  buttons — size  of  a  dollar — 

With  tails  that  country-folk  call  "  swaller." 

He  wore  a  broad-brimmed  bell-crowned  hat, 

White  as  the  locks  on  which  it  sat. 

********* 

Close  at  his  elbows,  all  that  day, 

Veterans  of  the  Peninsula, 

Sunburnt  and  bearded,  charged  away, 

And  striplings,  downy  of  lip  and  chin — 

Clerks  that  the  Home  Guard  mustered  in — 

Glanced,  as  they  passed,  at  the  hat  he  wore, 

Then  at  the  rifle  his  right  hand  bore, 

And  hailed  him,  from  out  their  youthful  lore, 

With  scraps  of  a  slangy  repertoire: 

"  How  are  you,  White  Hat  ? "     "  Put  her  through !  " 

"  Your  head's  level !  "  and  "  Bully  for  you  !  '* 

Called  him  "  Daddy,"  and  begged  he'd  disclose 

The  name  of  the  tailor  who  made  his  clothes, 

And  what  was  the  value  he  set  on  those ; 

While  Burns,  unmindful  of  jeer  and  scoff, 

Stood  there  picking  the  rebels  off — 

With  his  long  brown  rifle  and  bell-crown  hat 

And  the  swallow-tails  they  were  laughing  at. 


FLEEING  FROM  THE   WRATH? 


47 


'Twas  but  a  moment :  for  that  respect 

Which  clothes  all  courage  their  voices  checked; 

And  something  the  wildest  could  understand 

Spake  in  the  old  man's  strong  right  hand, 

And  his  corded  throat,  and  the  lurking  frown 

Of  his  eyebrows  under  his  old  bell-crown  ; 

Until,  as  they  gazed,  there  crept  an  awe 

Through  the  ranks,  in  whispers,  and  some  men  saw, 

In  the  antique  vestments  and  long  white  hair, 

The  Past  of  the  Nation  in  battle  there J' 

"FLEEING  FROM  THE  WRATH." 

On  the  morning  of  Bu- 
ford's  cavalry  affair,  Elinor 
was  sitting  with  her  moth 
er  underthe  willows.  The 
old  lady  was  knitting  away 
upon  a  woollen  sock  of 
liberal  dimensions,  a  pros 
pective  addition  to  the 
wardrobe  of  the  ancient 
Dietrich.  Elinor  occupied 
a  substantial  old-fashioned 
arm-chair,  and  pensively 
toyed  with  Carlo's  ears. 

With  a  slight  sigh  Mrs. 
Dietrich  said  :  "  Dear  me, 
when  will  this  terrible 
fighting  be  over?  So  far 
we  have  escaped,  but  no 
one  can  tell  when  the  soldiers  may  come  here.  By  the  way, 
Elinor,  have  you  any  news  from  the  South?" 


48  MARS  AND  CUPID  A 71  GETTYSBURG. 

This  was  Mother  Dietrich's  way  of  asking  :  "  Have  you 
heard  from  Frank  ?"  And  her  daughter  therefore  replied  : 

"  Yes,  mother.  He  writes  that  he  is  on  the  march  from 
Carlisle,  and  hopes  he  may  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
us  on  their  way  back  to  Virginia.  But  of  course  he  can't 
tell — they  may  not  come  within  many  miles." 

"Well,  my  child,  we  must  be  patient  and  hope  for  the 
best." 

A  heavy  report,  as  of  thunder,  broke  the  stillness ;  it  was 
followed  by  a  distant  explosion.  Both  of  the  ladies  rose, 
and  hurried  to  the  northern  side  of  the  house,  from  which 
they  had  a  partial  view  of  the  artillery  duel  in  front  of  the 
Seminary. 

Farmer  Dietrich  appeared.  He  was  a  large,  heavy  per 
son,  a  "  Peace-at-any-price  "  man,  who  took  no  interest  in 
the  issues  at  stake  except  as  they  directly  concerned  him 
self.  He  had  tried  to  steer  a  middle  course,  with  the  re 
sult  that  he  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  both  sec 
tions  of  the  people.  He  now  seemed  somewhat  excited. 

"  Mother,  you  and  Nell  will  have  to  go  over  to  Henry's 
until  this  thing  blows  over;  they  tell  me  there's  likely  to 
be  a  big  battle  right  around  here,  and  the  womenfolks  had 
better  get  ready  at  once.  The  wagon  will  be  around  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour." 

Being  women  of  action,  no  time  was  wasted  in  specula 
tion  or  lamentation.  Within  the  specified  time,  trunks 
were  packed,  many  valuable  things  were  thrown  hastily 
into  large  baskets  and  made  ready  for  removal ;  for  it  was 
impossible  to  conjecture  the  fate  of  the  house  in  the  event 
of  a  battle.  Much  fine  old  furniture,  too  heavy  to  move, 


THE  DIETRICH  CAVALCADE. 

was  left  behind,  including  an  old  Dutch  clock,  which  had 
ticked  away,  without  stop  or  falter,  for  nearly  a  hundred 
years. 

The  six-seated  Germantown  wagon,  drawn  by  two  fat 
horses,  was  quickly  filled  by  the  family  and  the  "women 
folks  " — excepting  Aunt  Chloe,  the  cook,  who,  perched 
upon  the  top  of  her  own  precious  trunk  in  one  of  the  light 
farm  wagons,  with  a  band-box  of  generous  dimensions  in 
one  hand  and  a  huge  red  bandanna  bundle  in  the  other, 
presented,  to  all  whom  it  might  concern,  an  example  of 
monumental  dignity  hard  to  equal  and  impossible  to  sur 
pass. 

The  Dietrich   cavalcade  moved  down   the   Emmittsburg 

o 

road  with  a  view  of  getting  within  the  Federal  lines  if  possi 
ble.  First,  the  proprietor  on  one  of  his  best  horses,  a  colt 
with  which  he  hoped  to  take  a  prize  at  the  next  county 
fair ;  then  came  the  Germantown  with  its  fair  freight- 
Elinor,  pale  but  composed,  and  occupied  with  comforting 
her  mother.  By  the  side  of  the  carriage  ran  Carlo,  who 
looked  on  the  whole  thing  as  a  picnic  ;  then  four  wagons 
of  various  sizes,  laden  with  an  assortment  of  ploughs,  pro 
visions,  pots  and  pans,  and  the  odds  and  ends  of  farm  equip 
ment  ;  and,  last  of  all,  a  small  herd  of  cattle.  As  they 
reached  the  summit  of  a  long  hill  Elinor  turned  to  look  at 
the  deserted  homestead.  The  familiar  spot  never  looked 
so  beautiful  ;  the  house  in  which  she  was  born,  the  great 
barn,  the  scene  of  so  many  frolics,  the  willows  weeping  in 
silence — all  stood  out  sharply  against  the  smoke  of  the  bat 
tle,  now  waxing  hot  in  the  background. 

The  refugees  had  almost  reached   a  turning  to  the  east- 
4 


50  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

ward  which  would  give  them  a  good  road  to  Taneytown 
and  safety,  and  Elinor's  father  was  beginning  to  breathe 
more  freely,  when  just  ahead  he  saw  a  mounted  man  with  a 
carbine  resting  on  his  knee.  Making  a  sign  to  his  coach 
man  to  stop,  Dietrich  rode  forward. 

"  Halt  !  "  said  the  soldier.     "  Whar  you  uns  goin  ?  " 

"I  am  taking  my  family  to  a  safe  place  until  the  fighting 
is  over,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Wai,  reck'n  '1  hev  to  turn  yo  all  over  to  the  Looten't, 
so  keep  right  along  o'  me  ;  "  and  the  procession  moved. 
"  Likely  critter  that,"  said  their  captor. 

The  farmer's  heart  sank  within  him.  To  use  his  own 
words,  he  "  had  jumped  from  the  fryin'-pan  into  the  fire." 

Soon  they  came  upon  the  commander  of  the  picket-guard. 
This  officer  was  very  civil,  but  sent  them  a  mile  further  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  scouting  party  to  which  he  be 
longed.  Here  Captain  Jones  of  the  Confederate  cavalry 
kindly  exchanged  some  of  his  own  spare-ribbed  steeds  for 
the  farmer's  plump  animals  ;  relieved  the  wagons  of  a  few 
sacks  of  oats  and  flitches  of  bacon  for  immediate  consump 
tion  ;  turned  over  the  cattle  and  wagons  to  the  quarter 
master  of  the  expedition  ;  permitted  the  family  to  retain 
the  Germantown  wagon,  now  drawn  by  two  exhausted  cav 
alry  horses  with  "  U.  S."  branded  on  their  shoulders  ;  re 
quested  Mr.  Dietrich  not  to  move  further  for  one  hour;  left 
a  corporal  and  one  man  to  see  that  he  should  not  forget, 
and  after  apologies  to  the  ladies  for  any  inconvenience 
which  they  might  suffer  from  this  change  in  their  plans, 
touched  his  cap  and  departed. 

The  Army  of   the   Potomac  was  posted  with   its   centre 


THE  THIRD  DAY'S  BA  TTLE.  5  T 

upon  a  high  crest  on  the  southern  edge  of  Gettysburg, 
called  Cemetery  Hill ;  from  this  spot  the  right  of  the  line 
extended  toward  the  east,  and  lay  on  the  north  of  the  Bal 
timore  pike;  from  the  Cemetery  Hill  the  line  occupied  the 
crest  of  a  ridge  which,  broken  by  clumps  of  trees,  extended 
southward  for  nearly  two  miles  to  a  high  and  rocky  peak 
called  "  Round  Top,"  forming  the  extreme  left  of  General 
Meade's  position. 

The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  occupied  a  ridge  nearly 
parallel  to  the  Union  line,  but  not  so  high  and  with  more 
timber  on  its  crest.  These  two  lines  of  battle  were  sepa 
rated  by  low  broken  ground,  at  a  distance  of  from  half  a 
mile  to  a  mile. 

The  farm  buildings  stood  between  the  lines  and  a  little 
south  of  the  Union  centre.  The  buildings  were  first  occu 
pied  by  the  rebel  sharpshooters,  who  began  to  annoy  the 
Yankee  skirmish  line.  Finally  a  rush  was  made  by  a  New 
Jersey  regiment,  which  drove  out  the  occupants  and  cap 
tured  eighty  of  their  number.  This  was  a  brief  triumph  ;  a 
fresh  body  of  Southrons  attacked  the  building,  and  again 
planted  the  "  Stars  and  Bars  "  over  the  farm-house.  Thrice 
was  this  combat  repeated  until  night,  when  both  sides  took 
a  rest. 

THE  THIRD  DAY  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

At  dawn  on  the  third  day  of  the  conflict  a  noisy  fire  from 
Lee's  artillery  began.  The  battle  of  the  previous  day  had 
been  most  furious  at  Cemetery  Hill  and  at  the  Round 
Tops.  Twice  it  seemed  as  if  the  Confederate  army  would 
overwhelm  the  troops  defending  those  points.  General 


52  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

Lee  now  determined  to  make  his  final  effort  to  dislodge  his 
enemy  by  a  direct  assault  upon  the  centre  of  his  position. 
The  — th  North  Carolina  Infantry  (or  "  The  Pine  Knots," 
as  they  had  been  christened,  on  account  of  certain  tough 
qualities)  were  aroused  at  an  early  hour  on  July  3,  1863. 
While  it  was  yet  dark  the  colonel  had  sent  for  Captain 
Arden  of  his  regiment.  A  tall,  muscular  young  man, 
bronzed  to  an  old-oak  color,  with  strong  features,  dark  eyes 
and  hair  worn  in  cavalier  fashion,  appeared  and  saluted. 

"  Arden,  the  regiment  is  ordered  to  re-occupy  those  build 
ings  in  our  front  as  quietly  as  possible,  so  as  to  be  in  posi 
tion  by  daylight.  I  want  you  to  take  your  company  and 
occupy  the  farm-house.  Jackson's  company  will  go  forward 
to  the  barn.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  will  support  you. 
It  may  be  that  we  shall  find  the  Yankees  there  before  us ; 
in  that  case  we  must  try  to  bag  them  if  possible." 

"  Very  good,  Colonel ;  is  that  all  ?  " 

"Yes  ;   take  care  of  yourself." 

Captain  Arden  had  been  a  witness  to  the  warfare  at  the 
Dietrich  homestead  on  the  previous   day.     He  felt  certain 
that  Elinor  had  gone   away,  but  where?  and  how?     Had. 
she  reached  a  place  of  safety,  or  was  she  exposed   to  the  ( 
horrors  and  dangers  of  the  campaign? 

At  the  appointed  time  the  "  Pine  Knots  "  crept  forward, 
Arden's  company  leading.  To  avoid  injuring  each  other, 
a  special  countersign  was  agreed  upon.  The  precautions 
proved  unnecessary  ;  the  buildings  were  unoccupied  and 
the  regiment  established  itself  unmolested. 

The  force  at  the  house  was  under  Captain  Arden's  com 
mand,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  made  everything  secure  out- 


A  RUINED  HOMESTEAD.  ^ 

side,  he  entered  the  familiar  doorway.  What  a  ruin ! 
Shattered  windows,  bullet-holed  walls,  blood-stained  floors  ; 
the  old  clock  battered  and  silent  ;  it  was  impossible  to  con 
ceive  of  the  destruction  that  one  day  could  encompass. 
Arden  found  the  heavy  oaken  door  leading  into  the  cellar 
closed,  and  fastened  on  the  inside.  Calling  some  men  to 
his  aid,  it  was  soon  broken  open.  As  the  eyes  of  the  party 
became  accustomed  to  the  light,  they  saw  in  one  corner  a 
curious  heap  of  boxes  and  barrels  ;  peering  behind  this,  one 
of  the  men  exclaimed  :  "  Cap'n,  thar's  a  nigger  hidin'  in 
that  corner — come  out'n  that." 

"  Ise  comin',  seh,"  said  a  smothered  sort  of  voice,  as  amid 
laughter  and  a  cloud  of  dust  from  the  flour  bin  in  which  he 
had  been  lying,  Jim  appeared. 

"  Why,  Jim,  what  are  you  doing  here?"  said  Captain 
Arden. 

The  negro  chuckled.  "  Tell  de  truf,  Mars  Frank,  couldn't 
git  away.  When  de  family  done  gone  I  tink  go'n  git  some 
sleep — hant  had  none  two'r  tree  day.  When  I  wuk  up  dey 
wus  at  it.  Hamr  end  tongs  !  how  dey  did  bang  an'  fight  an' 
groan,  en  it  seem  t'me  dat  I  bes  lay  low  entil  dey  was  less 
'citement." 

"  What  did  you  have  to  eat  ?  "  asked  some  one. 
"  Dey  was  right  sm'at  meat  an  pie  lef,  but  powerful  dry 
fo'  watah — only  vinegar  an'  sich,"  said  the  boy.  Taking 
him  aside,  Arden  soon  had  the  news  of  the  flitting  as  well 
as  a  short  note  from  Elinor,  penned  as  she  was  leaving,  and 
entrusted  to  the  boy.  Jim  was  a  free  negro  who  had  be 
come  attached  to  Arden  long  before,  when  on  a  visit  to  the 


54  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

farm,  and  had  gone  South  with  the  young  soldier  as  a  body 
servant. 

On  the  Union  side,  and  occupying  an  advanced  position 
in  front  of  the  right  of  the  Second  Corps,  were  two  regi 
ments  of  infantry :  the  I4th  Connecticut  and  the  8th  Ohio. 

About  10  o'clock  the  fire  from  Arden's  sharpshooters  be 
came  so  annoying  that  the  Connecticut  regiment  was  or- 


CONFEDERATE  SHARPSHOOTER. 


dered  to  drive  them  away  and  hold  the  buildings.  Captain 
Moore,  with  four  companies,  moved  forward  against  the 
barn.  Instantly  the  "  Pine  Knots  "  behind  the  stone  wall 
poured  a  volley  into  them,  and  two  officers  and  several  men 
were  seen  to  drop.  But,  with  a  cheer,  the  Connecticut 
"  boys  "  rushed  on  and  over  the  wall,  and  at  the  same  time 
a  canister  shot  ploughed  its  way  into  the  barn  and  exploded, 
wounding  several  of  the  Confederates.  Major  Ellis  of  the 
Fourteenth,  with  the  greater  part  of  his  regiment,  now  at 
tacked  the  house.  Here  there  was  a  stout  resistance.  The 
assaulting  party  were  met  with  a  sharp  fire  from  the  posi- 


PICKEWS  GRAND  CHARGE.  ^ 

tion  defended  by  Arden's  men.  But  the  New  Englanders, 
having  come  so  far  on  their  errand,  did  not  propose  to  re 
tire,  and  availed  themselves  of  the  cover  of  the  barn. 

In  the  mean  while  they  noted  the  tall  form  of  a  young 
rebel  officer  moving  unconcernedly  to  and  fro  behind  his 
men,  encouraging  them  and  occasionally  correcting  the  aim 
of  a  nervous  marksman.  Several  shots  were  taken  at  him 
by  the  Union  sharpshooters  without  effect.  And  now  the 
Connecticut  men  rushed  forward  on  both  sides  of  the  be 
leaguered  domicile.  Even  veterans  cannot  stand  before  a 
flank  attack,  and  so  the  "  Pine  Knots  "  fell  back  sullenly. 

All  this  took  place  during  a  pause  in  the  general  opera 
tions.  It  was  a  sort  of  tournament.  Orders  came  to  burn 
the  buildings,  and  so  Major  Ellis  applied  the  torch  to 
everything  that  would  burn,  and  in  an  hour  the  Dietrich 
homestead  was  a  smoking  ruin."* 

PICKETT'S  GRAND  CHARGE. 

About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  heavy  cannonade 
was  opened  from  one  hundred  and  fifteen  pieces  of  Lee's 
artillery  upon  the  Union  front  and  centre ;  like  the  blows 
of  a  great  steam-hammer,  shot  and  shell  fell  for  nearly 
three  hours.  At  half  past  four  o'clock,  the  firing  ceased  as 
suddenly  as  it  commenced.  Across  the  plain  came  with 
measured  tread,  elbow  to  elbow,  three  long  lines,  fifteen 
thousand  strong,  the  flower  of  the  Southern  army,  com 
manded  by  a  gallant  Virginian — General  Pickett.  Their 
purpose  was  evident ;  they  were  about  to  assault  and  risk 

*  The  site  of  this  exploit  was  purchased  by  the  Fourteenth  Connecticut  Veterans  after 
the  war,  and  a  Memorial  Stone  marks  the  spot. 


-6  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

everything  on  the  cast  of  a  die.  General  Hunt  had  massed 
fresh  batteries  in  the  rear  of  the  Second  Corps,  and  soon 
they  were  pouring  destruction  into  the  enemy,  each  moment 
coming  nearer.  But  on  they  came,  until  those  on  the  cem 
etery  crest  could  almost  see,  as  in  olden  times,  "  the  whites 
of  their  eyes."  With  flags  unfurled  and  floating  proudly, 
the  undaunted  assailants  pressed  forward.  Round  shot 
ploughed  furrows,  shell  and  canister  tore  great  gaps  in  their 
lines,  but  the  furrows  disappeared  and  the  gaps  were  in 
stantly  filled  from  the  rear.  Stannard's  Vermont  brigade 
was  in  position  so  that  it  commanded  the  right  flank  of  the 
approaching  division,  and  it  fired  two  or  three  volleys,  with 
the  effect  only  of  causing  the  enemy  to  crowd  a  little  more 
to  the  left.  It  seemed  as  if  this  huge  wave  must  reach 
and  sweep  over  the  Union  army,  when  nothing  might  stay 
Lee's  triumphant  march  to  Philadelphia.  But  the  com 
mander  at  the  threatened  point  was  equal  to  this  emer 
gency.  As  the  Confederates  were  within  two  hundred 
yards,  six  thousand  men  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  rose 
from  behind  the  low  stone  walls,  and  full  in  the  faces  of  the 
advancing  host  burst  forth  a  sheet  of  flame.  Volley  after 
volley  roared  and  rattled  and  blazed  into  what  had  been 
such  a  brilliant  array  of  banners  and  bayonets.  Nothing 
living  could  withstand  the  effect.  As  with  a  scythe  the 
gray-brown  rows  were  literally  mown  down  in  this  great 
harvest  of  Death !  With  this  relentless  musketry  in  front 
and  their  own  artillery  a  mile  in  their  rear,  now  playing  on 
friend  and  foe  alike,  there  seemed  nothing  for  them  to  do 
but  to  drop  down  and  be  gathered  in  by  the  Union  troops. 
On  the  left  of  Pickett's  line  hundreds  threw  themselves  flat, 


THE  HIGH- WATER  MARK. 


57 


waving  in  token  of  surrender  hats,  handkerchiefs  or  naked 
hands.  Others  would  not  yet  yield,  but  while  availing 
themselves  of  any  cover  that  offered,  planted  their  colors  in 
the  earth  and  crouched  behind  and  under  them  at  bay.* 

In  spite  of  this  hot  reception  the  main  part  of  the  as 
saulting  force,  led  by  General  Armistead,  dashed  through 
the  withering  fire  and  reached  the  Union  centre.  The  blue 
flag  of  Virginia  waved  for  a  few  moments  over  the  Union 


WHERE  PICKETT'S  CHARGE  ENDED. 

lines,  and  it  was  said  by  more  than  one  cool  spectator  at 
other  parts  of  General  Meade's  line,  "  Our  centre  is 
pierced."  The  Confederate  general  laid  his  hand  upon  a 
captured  Union  gun  and  shouted,  "  Give  them  the  cold 
steel,  boys  !  "  In  a  moment  he  fell,  mortally  wounded. 


*  The  fences  along  the  Emmittsburg  road  were  riddled.  One  inch-and-a-quarter  board 
was  indeed  a  curiosity.  It  was  sixteen  feet  long,  fourteen  inches  broad,  and  was  perlo- 
rated  with  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six  musket  balls.  This  board  is  said  to  be  in  the 
possession  of  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society.  This  board  was  on  that  part  of  the 
fence  where  Scales'  brave  little  brigade  crossed  it. 


58  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

The  Union  general,  Webb,  by  his  personal  example 
greatly  helped  to  turn  the  tide  of  battle.  For  a  moment 
there  was  great  confusion.  Regiments  had  lost  their  for 
mation,  although  the  men  had  not  lost  heart,  but  were  fight 
ing  "  on  their  own  hook."  A  regiment  from  Minnesota, 
one  from  New  York,  another  from  Michigan  and  a  fourth 
from  Massachusetts  threw  themselves  into  the  breach  with 
Webb's  Pennsylvanians,  and  the  enemy  was  pressed  back, 
broken  and  decimated,  but  defiant  still.  At  this  moment, 
Lieutenant  Gushing,  of  the  regular  artillery,  who  had  been 
mortally  wounded  through  both  thighs,  his  battery  a  ruin, 
his  men  and  horses  lying  dead  or  wounded  at  his  feet,  ran 
his  only  serviceable  piece  up  to  the  fence  and  said:  "  Webb, 
I'll  give  them  one  more  shot."  As  the  report  of  the  gun 
followed,  Gushing  called  out  "  Good-bye!  "  and  fell  dead. 

SERGEANT-MAJOR  HINCKS'  EXPLOIT. 

During  the  grand  assault,  the  Fourteenth  Connecticut 
Regiment  was  in  position  opposite  the  left  of  the  enemy's 
advancing  lines ;  this  regiment  was  armed  with  Sharps' 
breech-loading  rifles  and  their  fire  was  very  severe. 

Sergeant  Wade  of  this  regiment  says : 

"  By  this  time  the  Fourteenth  were  all  excited  ;  they  re 
membered  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancellorsville, 
and  over  the  wall  they  went;  nothing  could  stop  them,  and 
soon-  they  were  fighting  hand-to-hand  with  the  rebels.  We 
captured  six  battle-flags  and  forty  prisoners ;  and  over  one 

hundred  prisoners  came  in  afterwards Oh,  it  was  a 

glorious  day  for  the  old  Fourteenth  !  One  of  the  lieuten 
ant-colonels  taken  by  our  regiment,  coming  up  to  our  thin 


SERGEANT-MAJOR  HINCKS*  EXPLOIT.  rg 

line,  asked  us  where  all  our  troops  were,  and  being  told  that 
he  could  see  all  there  were,  exclaimed,  '  Oh !  that  I  had 
known  it  a  half  hour  since/  Some  of  the  prisoners  told  us 
that  their  generals  told  them  that  they  were  fighting  noth 
ing  but  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  but  when  they  saw  that 
ace  of  clubs,  the  trefoil  badge  of  the  Second  Corps,  they; 
all  exclaimed,  *  We  have  been  fighting  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.'  ' 

After  the  first  fire  from  the  Union  side  had  taken 
effect,  Sergeant-Major  WILLIAM  B.  HlNCKS,  of  the  Four 
teenth,  saw,  planted  in  the  ground,  some  distance  in  front,  a 
rebel  flag.  Around  and  on  a  line  with  it  were  a  number  of 
unwounded  men  who  had  thrown  themselves  down  to  avoid 
the  heavy  fire.  He  determined  to  capture  the  flag.  Leap 
ing  over  the  wall,  with  nothing  but  his  short  sword  in  his 
hand,  he  ran  straight  for  it.  At  the  same  time  two  or  three 
others  of  his  regiment  had  started  for  the  same  goal.  One 
of  these,  an  officer,  was  brought  down  by  a  bullet  ere  he 
had  run  ten  yards.  Hincks  outstripped  the  others,  reached 
the  spot,  and  with  a  yell  seized  the  colors  by  the  staff,  and 
waving  his  sword  over  his  head  was  on  his  way  back  before 
those  around  could  divine  his  purpose.  Instantly  a  shower 
of  bullets  came  all  about  him  ;  he  was  also  exposed  to  a 
scattering  fire  from  our  troops.  It  was  "  running  the  gant 
let  "  indeed.  Hincks,  in  his  dash  across  the  neutral  ground, 
seemed  to  bear  a  charmed  life.  As  he  neared  his  own  lines 
he  saw  the  men  standing  up,  regardless  of  the  leaden  mes 
sengers  behind,  and  as  he  mounted  the  wall,  trophy  in  hand, 
the  regiment,  to  a  man,  wildly  cheered  the  gallant  fellow. 
It  proved  to  be  the  colors  of  the  "  Fourteenth  Tennessee." 


6o  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

On  the  flag  were  inscribed  the  names  of  the  following  bat 
tles  in  which  it  had  been  borne:  "  Seven  Pines,"  "  Mechan- 
icsville,"  "  Cold  Harbor,"  "  Shepardstown,"  "  Fredericks- 
burg,"  "Chancellorsville,"  "Ox  Hill,"  "Harper's  Ferry," 
"  Sharpsburg,"  "  Frazier's  Farm,"  "Cedar  Run,"  "  Manas- 
sas." 

Major  Hincks  writes  :  *  "  We  were  behind  a  low  stone 
wall,  such  as  may  be  seen  on  any  New  England  farm.  Par 
allel  to  this  wall,  and  perhaps  150  yards  away,  was  a  lane 
(Emmittsburg  road  ?),  on  either  side  of  which  were  the  ruins 
of  a  wooden  fence.  My  recollection  is  that  our  people 
began  to  fire  as  the  front  line  of  the  enemy  crossed  this 
fence.  This  broke  their  front  line ;  their  advance  was 
checked  and  they  began  to  fire.  Then  their  color-bearer 
ran  forward,  planted  his  flag  in  the  ground,  and  with  several 
others — I  presume  the  color-guard — laid  down  beside  it,  our 
fire  being  very  hot.  At  that  time  I  was  firing  two  Sharps' 
rifles  which  Lieut.  Hawley  was  loading  for  me  ;  they  be 
longed  to  men  wounded  early  in  the  day.  .  .  .  The  regi 
ment  on  our  right  fired  buck-and-ball  cartridges,  and  I  think 
that  I  was  in  as  much  danger  from  them  when  I  ran  to  get 
the  flag  as  from  the  enemy.  .  .  .  One  gun  (cannon)  which 
had  been  pushed  out  a  few  rods  in  front  of  our  stone  wall 
remained  there  during  the  charge,  having  been  disabled.  A 
daring  Southerner  jumped  upon  this  gun  and  waved  his  hat ; 
but  did  not  live  to  tell  the  story.  In  going  after  the  flag  I 
ran  past  this  gun,  leaving  it  upon  my  left  hand."  f 

On  the  right  of  the  Fourteenth,  but  further  to  the  front, 

*  August  i,  1886. 

t  See  full-page  drawing  facing  opening  of  this  chapter. 


SERGEANT  MILLER'S  TROPHIES.  fa 

another  small  regiment,  the  Eighth  Ohio  Infantry,  had  been 
posted  since  the  day  before,  as  part  of  the  picket-line. 

SERGEANT  MILLER'S  TROPHIES. 

When  the  wave  of  Pickett's  charge  rolled  up  to  the  crest 
of  the  Cemetery  Ridge  it  passed  to  the  left  of  the  Ohioans. 
Having  spent  its  force,  part  of  it  receded  and,  breaker-like, 
scattered  its  foam  along  the  battle  beach.  For  a  moment 
it  seemed  as  if  the  gallant  Eighth  would  be  washed  away. 
But  it  stood  like,  a  rock  ;  and  the  ebbing  tide  divided  as  it 
met  this  new  obstruction.  The  enemy  was  not  panic- 
stricken  ;  there  was  plenty  of  fight  in  him  yet.  Hand-to- 
hand  encounters  took  place.  Prisoners  and  colors  were 
taken,  and  there  were  many  acts  of  gallantry.  Sergeant 
DANIEL  MILLER,  of  "  Company  G,  8th  O.  V.  I.,"  was  a 
terror  in  this  combat.  He  had  already  sent  several  prison 
ers  to  the  rear  when  he  saw,  a  short  distance  away,  some 
thing  tempting;  it  was  a  rebel  flag  in  the  centre  of  three  or 
four  "  Pine  Knots."  At  that  moment  a  shell  exploded  just 
over  their  heads.  A  piece  struck  the  color-bearer  and 
brought  him  to  his  knees.  The  colors  were  not  suffered  to 
touch  the  ground.  A  young  officer  sprang  forward  and 
grasped  the  staff.  This  man  was  already  wounded  ;  covered 
with  dust,  the  blood  trickling  from  a  gash  on  his  forehead, 
without  a  hat,  his  eyes  blazing,  holding  his  torn  but  pre 
cious  standard  aloft  in  one  hand  while  he  guarded  it  with 
his  bare  rapier  in  the  other,  he  seemed  the  living  imperson 
ation  of  valor.  But  he  was  almost  alone,  his  revolver 
empty  and  his  line  of  retreat  nearly  cut  off.  He  backed 
slowly  toward  a  gap  in  the  fence  near  which  he  stood  ;  once 


62 


MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 


on  the  other  side  of  it  he  might  reach  his  own  lines  in 
safety.  But  the  foeman  was  upon  him.  The  Ohio  soldier 
confronted  the  brave  Confederate  and  bade  him  surrender. 
Nine  out  of  ten  men  would  have  done  so.  But  no;  holding 
the  flag  behind  him  the  rebel  officer  parried  with  great  dex 
terity  the  thrusts  made  by  the  sergeant,  who  was  loath  to 
shoot  this  gallant  youth.  But  there  was  no  time  to  lose  ; 


RELIEVING   THE   WOUNDED. 


if  he  wanted  the  flag  he  must  act  promptly.  "  Surrender ! 
or  I'll  shoot,"  hoarsely  cried  Miller.  In  response  the  slen 
der  sword-blade  seemed  to  wrap  itself  round  the  barrel  of 
his  rifle  and  the  point  pierced  his  wrist.  A  sharp  report 
rang  in  the  ears  of  the  Southern  soldier;  he  dropped  his 
weapon  and  fell  backward  upon  the  banner  of  his  regiment, 
pale  and  motionless.  His  opponent  in  vain  tried  to  loosen 
the  death-grip  which  held  the  color-staff,  so  tearing  the 
silken  trophy  from  the  lance,  he  thrust  it  into  his  bosom. 
Honors  now  were  easier.  There  were  but  few  in  sight  of 
that  grand  division  of  Virginians  and  Georgians  which 


AFTER  THE  BATTLE.  63 

swept  so  proudly  on  to  the  Union  position  less  than  half 
an  hour  before.  Here  and  there  might  be  seen  a  little 
group  slowly  nearing  the  rebel  lines  with  wounded  com 
rades.  Once  more  did  Sergeant  Miller  add  to  the  glorious 
"  loot."  Creeping  along  a  stone  wall  he  saw  a  "  butter 
nut  "  figure.  It  proved  to  be  another  color-bearer.  One  by 
one  his  color-guard  had  been  killed  or  wounded,  and  he 
was  making  to  the  rear.  It  required  but  slight  exercise 
of  Miller's  persuasive  powers  to  induce  the  man  with  his 
charge  to  turn  about  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

And  now  the  forces  of  Nature  took  their  turn.  A  great 
thunder-storm  gathered  and  broke  over  the  battlefield. 
The  artillery  of  the  heavens  in  mighty  peals  seemed  to 
mock  the  late  cannonade.  The  lightning  blinded  man  and 
beast;  and  the  rain,  falling  in  great  sheets,  promised  to 
wash  out  the  blood-stains  from  the  face  of  mother  earth. 
And  this  last  was  a  great  blessing  to  the  thousands  of 
wounded  and  dying  who,  burning  with  thirst  and  faint  for 
want  of  food  and  drink,  were  instantly  refreshed. 

AFTER  THE  BATTLE.  • 

The  day  following  was  the  anniversary  of  our  national 
independence.  How  it  was  spent  on  the  battlefield  is  told 
by  Sergeant  Wade  of  the  Fourteenth  Connecticut,  in  an 
interesting  letter:  "  Saturday,  July  4,  we  were  called  up  at 
three  o'clock,  and  ordered  to  fix  up  our  little  stone  wall  put 
in  front  of  us,  as  the  rebels  would  no  doubt  try  us  again  early 
in  the  day.  But  they  did  not  come  and  we  lay  here  all 
day,  resting  from  our  arduous  labors  of  the  few  days  pre 
vious.  We  could  hear  the  groans  of  the  wounded  rebels 


64 


MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 


ahead  of  our  picket-lines,  but  every  attempt  at  taking  them 
off  to  a  hospital  would  prove  unavailing,  as  the  enemy's 
pickets  would  fire  at  us  if  we  attempted  it 

"  This  was  the  first  Fourth  of  July  we  had  been  in  the  Ser 
vice,  and  we  talked  over  our  prospects  for  the  future,  and 
reviewed  the  past  ;  especially  that  portion  since  we  had  left 
Falmouth.  We  had  been  on  the  march  twenty-one  days, 
had  travelled  over  200  miles,  and  suffered  exceedingly  from 
the  heat  and  had  pretty  hard  living.  We  had  scarcely  any 
thing  to  eat  from  July  I  to  the  night  of  the  3d,  when  we 
crawled  out  on  the  battlefield  after  dark,  where  the  ene 
my's  wounded  lay,  and  took  the  haversacks  from  those  who 
had  been  killed  in  the  fight  that  day ;  these  haversacks 
were  nearly  all  full  of  nice  hoe-cakes.  Some  that  we  found 
were  stained  with  blood  where  it  had  run  into  their  haver 
sacks  from  their  wounds.  But  we  were  so  hungry  that  we 
didn't  stop  for  that.  This  may  seem  a  tough  story,  but  it 
is  true." 

The  Dietrich  family,  shorn  of  much  of  this  world's  goods 
by  the  Confederate  foraging  party,  finally  reached  their 
kinsman's  roof.  Here,  during  the  battle,  they  eagerly  lis 
tened  to  the  booming  and  the  crash  of  the  conflict  as  it 
came  to  them  on  the  fitful  wind.  But  Elinor  was  not  idle ; 
together  with  others  of  the  household  she  scraped  lint  and 
made  rolls  of  bandages,  and  felt  that  although  men  might 
fight  and  maim,  yet  it  was  woman's  sweet  privilege  to  bind 
up  the  wounds,  to  be  the  ministering  angel,  and  to  spread 
the  soft  mantle  of  Christian  charity  over  Rebel  and  Yankee 
alike.  Naturally  her  thoughts  turned  to  the  young  soldier 


WOUNDED  UNTO  DEATH.  5, 

so   far  from   home  and   kindred  ;    she  did    not   sympathize 
with  his  cause,  but  he  was  her  hero  and  in  danger. 

Coming  up  the  lane,  at  this  moment,  appeared  a  negro 
boy,  dressed  in  a  Union  soldier's  blue  trousers  and  cap, 
and  a  shirt  of  no  particular  allegiance  or  color.  As  he 
came  nearer,  Elinor's  heart  beat  fast.  It  was  Jim.  Were 
his  news  good  or  bad  ?  She  ran  forward.  Jim  took  off  his 
cap  when  he  saw  her,  and  in  answer  to  her  questioning 
eyes,  said :  "  Sorry,  Mis  Elinor,  t'  bring  you  sich  news. 
He's  been  wounded  despert  bad,  an  de  doctah  say  he  doan 
kno  ef  he  kin  live  fru  de  night."  • 

WOUNDED  UNTO  DEATH. 

Seated  under  a  tree,  out  of  sight  of  the  house,  and  forti 
fied  by  the  simple  refreshment  of  pie  and  milk,  Jim  told 
his  story.  In  brief,  he  had  been  left  in  camp  by  Captain 
Arden  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day.  When  the  rem 
nant  of  the  "  Pine  Knots"  came  back  that  night  his  master 
was  not  with  them  ;  he  had  been  last  seen  in  front,  when 
the  Confederate  line  fell  back.  Late  at  night,  Jim  and  one 
of  Arden's  men  had  crept  out  to  the  point  indicated  be 
tween  the  pickets,  and  after  an  hour's  search  had  found 
the  missing  officer  lying  unconscious,  but  alive,  and  still 
grasping  the  color-staff,  from  which  the  flag  had  evidently 
been  torn.  Having  found  him,  the  difficulty  was  to  get 
him  within  his  own  lines.  Jim  had  brought  with  him  a 
small  flask  of  Pennsylvania  "  apple-jack,"  with  which  he 
managed  to  partially  revive  the  captain.  Then,  aided  by 
his  companion,  he  made  a  sort  of  litter  with  a  blanket  and 
rubber  poncho,  stripped  from  a  dead  Union  soldier,  and 
5 


66  MARS  AND  CUPID  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

thus  they  half  carried,  half  dragged  their  almost  uncon 
scious  burden  to  the  Confederate  picket-line — not  without 
danger  of  occasional  shots  from  the  vigilant  watchers  of 
both  armies.  From  this  point  Arden  was  carried  to  a  small 
hut  occupied  by  an  old  colored  woman.  Upon  examina 
tion,  the  surgeon  reported  that  Captain  Arden  had  received 
a  slight  scalp  wound,  apparently  from  a  bayonet ;  but  the 
most  serious  thing  was  a  gunshot  wound  through  the  body, 
near  the  left  lung,  the  ball  having  evidently  passed  out 
through  the  back,  under  the  shoulder-blade.  That  it  was 
impossible  to  say,  then,  what  were  the  chances  of  recovery, 
but  that,  so  far,  the  absence  of  fever  and  a  fine  physique 
were  in  the  patient's  favor.  In  any  case,  it  would  be  a 
matter  of  nursing  rather  than  of  medicine.  As  the  boy 
finished,  Elinor  had  made  up  her  mind.  She  must  go  to 
Frank.  Who  could  nurse  him  so  well  as  she  ? 

Jim  reported  that  the  Confederates  had  fallen  back  from 
the  place  where  Arden  was  lying,  and  that  he  had  passed  a 
number  of  farmers  returning  to  their  homesteads.  So 
Elinor  took  her  father  into  her  confidence,  and  he,  seeing 
her  resolution,  yielded.  Her  mother  was  not  to  be  taken 
into  the  secret  until  a  day  later,  when  it  would  be  possible 
for  her  to  join  Elinor  by  comfortable  conveyance.  Under 
pretence  of  taking  a  ride  in  the  direction  of  the  Dietrich 
farm,  Elinor  and  her  father,  followed  by  Jim  on  one  of  the 
despised  "  U.  S."  cavalry  horses,  set  out  early  the  next 
morning. 

Aunt  Sheba's  abode  was  a  rude  cabin  of  boards  with  two 
rooms ;  one  was  kitchen,  reception,  dining  and  sewing 
room,  and  the  other  answered  the  purpose  of  a  bedroom; 


REWARDING  THE  VICTORS.  5* 

at  present  doing  duty  as  guest  chamber.  The  place  was 
"  neat  as  wax  "  and  not  without  a  picturesque  air,  with  nas 
turtium  vines  running  up  its  weather-beaten  sides  and 
almost  shutting  out  the  light  which  struggled  to  enter  at 
the  port-hole-like  window's. 

Within,  on  the  bed,  lay  Arden,  pale,  helpless  and  breath 
ing  with  difficulty,  his  eyes  fastened  upon  Elinor,  who 
stood  by  his  side,  holding  his  hand.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  bed  was  the  doctor,  an  old  practitioner  in  the  neighbor 
hood.  At  the  foot  of  the  bed  stood  one  in  half  clerical, 
half  military  garb,  with  a  book  in  his  hand.  In  the  back 
ground  sat  Farmer  Dietrich. 

Although  fever  had  not  set  in  yet,  the  wounded  man  was 
very  weak,  and  it  was  thought  his  case  was  hopeless.  By 
mutual  consent  it  was  determined  to  join  these  loving 
hearts  while  the  spark  of  life  still  lingered.  It  seemed  to 
gratify  Arden  that  at  least  Elinor  would  bear  his  name. 

The  ceremony  was  brief  but  impressive.  After  it  was 
over,  the  sick  man  closed  his  eyes,  and  all  but  the  doctor 
and  the  young  wife  left  the  room. 

REWARDING  THE  VICTORS. 

On  a  crisp,  beautiful  morning  in  December,  1864,  there 
was  a  grand  parade,  of  all  the  troops  available,  near  the 
headquarters  of  the  Second  Corps.  After  a  review  by  Gen 
eral  Meade,  the  command  "  Order  arms  !  "  was  given.  The 
adjutant-general  of  the  corps  soon  appeared  at  the  head  of 
a  small  party  of  officers  and  men,  wearing  side-arms  only. 
There  were  three  commissioned  officers,  two  non-commis 
sioned  staff-officers,  and  several  sergeants,  corporals  and 


68  MARS  AND  CUPID  A  7'  GETTYSBURG. 

privates.  They  advanced  to  the  front  and  centre  of  the 
line,  and  after  the  adjutant-general  had  read  the  orders  in 
the  case,  the  Victor  of  Gettysburg,  followed  by  a  brilliant 
retinue,  including  several  corps  commanders,  visiting  offi 
cers  of  foreign  armies  and  others,  approached  near  the  little 
group  and  presented  to  each  man,  with  a  graceful  word  or 
two  of  congratulation,  the  Medal  of  Honor  won  during  the 
campaign.  When  Lieutenant  Hincks'  name  was  called,  a 
tall,  slender,  boyish  figure  in  the  full  dress  of  an  adjutant 
of  infantry,  advanced  and  received  his  medal.  As  General 
Meade  handed  Hincks  the  prize,  he  said,  looking  at  the 
lieutenant's  shoulder-strap,  "I  am  glad  to  see,  sir,  that  you 
have  received  something  more  substantial  than  a  medal."' 

Through  some  inexcusable  blunder  the  gallant  Sergeant 
Miller,  of  G  Company,  8th  Ohio  Volunteers,  never  received 
the  medal  for  which  he  was  recommended  by  his  regimental 
commander,  but  it  was  sent  from  the  War  Department  to 
another  man  of  similar  surname,  in  the  same  company. 
The  poor  fellow  died  some  years  since,  and  never  ceased  to 
feel  that  "  Republics  are  ungrateful."  f 

We  have  already  taken  up  too  much  space  with  the 
incidents  of  the  great  battle,  and  must  stop  short  now. 
But  not  before  it  can  be  truly  said  that  what  seemed  to  be  a 

*  WILLIAM  B.  HINCKS  of  Connecticut,  aged  22,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  i4th  C.  V.  I., 
July,  1862.  Promoted  through  all  grades  to  ad  lieutenant  and  adjutant,  Oct.  20,  1863, 
major,  April  3,  1865.  Served  with  regiment  in  Second  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac, -dur 
ing  entire  period,  and  in  following  engagements:  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  Gettysburg,  Bristoe  Station,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Peters 
burg,  Hatcher's  Run,  Appomattox.  Received  honorary  degree  of  A.M.  from  Yale  College, 
July,  1878. 

t  "  The  8th  pressed  forward,  capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners  and  three  stands  of 
colors  ;  one  marked  34th  North  Carolina  and  one  38th  Virginia  were  captured  by  Ser 
geant  Daniel  Miller  'G'  Co."—Lt.-Cot.  F.  Sawyer,  %th  O.  V.  I.  Official  Report,  Battle  of 
Gettysburg, 


PEACE  AND  PROSPERITY.  gg 

death-bed  marriage  had  a  happy  ending.  A  strong  constitu 
tion  and  the  tender  care  of  his  wife  enabled  Captain  Arden 
to  pull  through.  But  his  recovery  was  very  slow,  and  re 
quired  a  trip  to  Europe  to  complete  the  cure  which  Elinor's 
nursing  had  commenced.  Indeed,  the  young  Carolinian 
had  hardly  stepped  upon  his  native  heath  when  the  news 
of  Appomattox  put  an  end  to  his  military  ambition. 

I  saw  them  driving  in  the  Park  the  other  day.  From  the 
size  of  the  family  party  and  the  appearance  of  the  equipage 
it  was  evident  that  our  Gettysburg  friends  are  both  happy 
and  prosperous.  In  the  dignified  coachman,  I  with  diffi 
culty  recognized  Jim. 


CORPORAL  JOHN    H.    WEEKS. 

I52D    N.    Y.    VOL.    INFANTRY. 


THE  SALIENT  AT  SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

THE  Army  of  the  Potomac,  leaving  its  winter  quarters 
at  Brandy  Station  and  Culpeper,  with  its  shelter-tents 
folded  on  the  top  of  the  knapsacks,  and  its  cartridge-boxes 
and  haversacks  well  filled,  had  crossed  the  Rapidan  River, 
for  the  last  time,  "  on  to  Richmond." 

For  six  days  it  had  fought  and  marched  through  the 
Wilderness,  and  on  May  n,  1864,  had  reached  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  where  General  Lee, 
with  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  barred  the  way. 

Never  before  had  gigantic  armies  striven  for  the  mas 
tery  in  such  dense  forests,  where  in  a  single  week  forty 
thousand  men  had  fallen,  killed  or  wounded. 

The  country  from  the  Rapidan  River  to  Spottsylvania 
Court  House  was  an  immense  wood,  with  here  and  there  a 
clearing  or  field  that  had  in  former  years  been  cultivated 
for  the  raising  of  corn  and  tobacco  The  male  portion  of 


J2  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO  TTSYL  VANIA. 

the  population   had   nearly  all  gone  further  south,  leaving 
the  women  and  a  few  negroes  at  home. 

There  was  a  projection  in  General  Lee's  line  a  short  dis 
tance  north  of  the  Court  House,  which  military  men  call 
"  The  Salient."  General  Grant  determined  that  an  assault 
should  be  made  at  that  point-  He  issued  orders  at  3  P.M. 
to  "  move  three  divisions  of  the  Second  Corps  by  the  rear 
of  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps,  under  cover  of  the  night,  so 
as  to  join  the  Ninth  Corps  in  a  vigorous  assault  on  the 
enemy  at  four  o'clock  A.M.,  to-morrow."  He  sent  two  staff 
officers  to  impress  upon  the  commanders  concerned  the 
necessity  of  pushing  forward  vigorously. 

How  these  orders  were  carried  out  is  related  in  the  fol 
lowing  pages  by  two  soldiers  of  Hancock's  Corps — one  from 
a  Pennsylvania  and  one  from  a  New  York  regiment.  These 
men  received  two  out  of  the  fifteen  Medals  of  Honor 
awarded  by  the  Government  to  Grant's  army  for  distin 
guished  service  at  Spottsylvania.  Their  statements  were 
contributed  upon  the  invitation  of  the  Editor. 

I.    CORPORAL  WEEKS'    STORY.* 

"  On  the  night  of  the  1 1th  of  May,  1864,  we  were  relieved 
by  the  5th  Corps  at  Laurel  Ridge  (or  Stony  Ridge,  I  have 
forgotten  which)  after  dark,  and  moved  out  of  the  works, 
with  instructions  to  move  as  silently  as  possible  ;  not  to 
allow  our  cups  or  bayonets  to  rattle  or  make  any  unneces 
sary  noise.  We  marched  all  night  through  a  cold  rain, 

*  JOHN  H.  WEEKS  was  born  at  Hampton,  Windom  County,  Connecticut,  March  15,  1845. 
Enlisted  as  private,  "  H  "  1526.  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  August  28,  1862.  Served  in  Second 
Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  until  discharged  as  corporal,  for  wounds,  May  25,  1865. 


CORPORAL   WEEKS'  STORY.  73 

until  just  before  the  break  of  day,  on  the  morning  of  the 
1 2th,  we  were  halted  in  line  of  battle,  with  orders  to  *  in 
place  rest.'  The  report  had  been  in  circulation  during  the 
night  that  we  were  going  to  relieve  the  6th  Corps  in  the 
Reserve,  that  we  might  get  a  chance  to  rest,  as  we  had 
been  under  fire  constantly  for  six  days  ;  and  when  we 
halted  we  could  see  the  light  of  camp  fires  shining  along 
the  sky  in  our  front,  where. we  supposed  were  the  6th 
Corps.  No  sooner  were  we  ordered  to  rest,  than  I  threw 
myself  down  in  the  mud  and  fell  asleep.  In  a  few  min 
utes  I  was  awakened  by  the  tramp  of  a  horse  coming  on  a 
lope.  I  raised  up  and  saw  an  aide  ride  to  General  Hancock 
(who  happened  to  be  near  our  right)  and  give  the  verbal 
order  to  the  general,  as  near  as  I  can  remember,  as  fol 
lows  : — '  Gen.  Meade's  compliments,  and  directs  that  you 
move  your  corps  forward  and  occupy  those  \vorks.' 

"  We  were  called  to  attention  and  ordered  '  Forward, 
guide  centre,  march !  '  Little  did  I  think  then  what  it 
would  cost  to  obey  that  order,  as  I  still  thought  it  was  the 
6th  Corps  in  our  front.* 

"  We  were  in  the  second  line  of  battle,  following  close 
behind  the  first,  till  soon  the  Reb  skirmishers  commenced 
firing.  Then  for  the  first  I  began  to  realize  that  we  had 
work  before  us.  It  was  now  getting  quite  light,  but  the 
fog  prevented  us  from  seeing  far  in  our  advance.  We  soon 


*  General  Grant  says,  "The ground  over  which  Hancock  had  to  pass  to  reach  the  enemy 
was  ascending,  and  heavily  wooded  to  within  two  or  three  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's 
intrenchments.  In  front  of  Birney  there  was  also  a  marsh  to  cross.  But  notwithstand 
ing  all  these  difficulties  the  troops  pushed  on  in  quick  time  without  firing  a  gun,  and 
-vvhen  within  four  or  five  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  line  broke  out  in  loud  cheers,  and 
with  a  rush  went  up  to  and  over  the  breastworks.  Barlow  and  Birney  entered  almost 
simultaneously.  Here  a  desperate  hand-  to-hand  conflict  took  place. 


74 


THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPOTTSYLVANIA. 


came  to  an  open  field  with  a  gradual  ascent  to  near  the  top, 
where  there  had  been  heavy  timber,  which  had  been  felled 
with  the  tops  toward  us  and  the  boughs  sharpened  ;  also 
wire  stretched  through  the  tree  tops.  Still  beyond  this 
obstruction  were  the  enemy's  works,  which  consisted  of  a 
ditch,  eight  feet  wide  and  nearly  as  deep,  with  a  row  of 
sharpened  stakes  set  in  front,  the  points  about  breast  high. 
Immediately  in  rear  of  the  ditch  were  the  breastworks, 
which  were  formed  of  the  dirt  thrown  up  from  the  ditch, 
making  the  distance  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  to  the 
top  of  the  works  from  twelve  to  fourteen  feet,  without  a 
chance  of  a  foothold. 

"  As  soon  as  we  came  to  the  edge  of  the  open  field  they 
opened  on  us  with  canister  and  musketry.  The  artillery 
had  been  massed  at  this  point  and  all  double-shotted  with 
canister — thirty  pieces,  if  I  remember  right.  Such  a 
storm  of  iron  and  lead  I  never  saw  before  or  since.  It  did 
not  seem  possible  for  a  man  to  live  to  reach  the  crest  of 
the  hill  and  pass  the  obstructions  ;  but,  as  history  tells, 
some  did.  But  by  the  time  we  reached  the  ditch  there 
was  no  line  of  battle,  but  a  moving  mass  of  yelling  Yan 
kees.  We  succeeded  in  wrenching  the  sharpened  stakes 
from  their  places,  and  used  them  in  crossing  the  ditch  and 
scaling  the  works.  When  I  think  now  of  all  the  difficul 
ties  we  had  to  overcome,  with  the  flower  of  the  rebel  army 
behind  such  works  pouring  upon  us  a  shower  of  lead,  success 
seems  impossible.  It  seemed  to  be  an  angle  of  their  works 
where  we  made  the  charge,  in  shape  of  the  letter  V.  Our 
right  was  on  the  left  wing  of  the  angle,  so  that  when  we 
got  inside  of  the  works  we  could  still  see  the  enemy  on  the 


THE  CO  A' PS  COMMANDER.  j? 

right  wing  opposing  our  men  there  from  entering.  It 
brought  us  in  their  rear.  When  we  had  sent  our  prisoners 
to  the  rear  we  still  advanced,  but  very  slowly,  on  account  of 
our  broken  ranks. 

"  I  saw  the  enemy  give  way  at  this  time  on  the  right  wing, 
and  amongst  the  rest  was  a  stand  of  colors  and  color-guard. 
These  men  fired  their  muskets  in  a  volley,  and  broke  for  the 
rear.  They  had  to  pass  down  our  front  to  get  out  of  the 
angle,  and  would  have  succeeded,  but  I  made  up  my  mind, 
as  soon  as  I  saw  them  start,  that  I  must  have  those  colors. 
I  had  also  fired  my  gun,  but  had  no  time  to  reload.  I  ran 
up  to  the  sergeant  and  snatched  his  colors  from  him,  threw 
them  on  the  ground  arid  put  my  foot  on  them,  cocked  my 
empty  gun,  and  told  them  the  first  one  of  them  that  moved 
out  of  his  tracks  I  would  shoot  him  down,  and  ordered 
them  to  throw  down  their  guns  and  surrender.  The  ser 
geant  said  to  them,  '  Boys,  they  have  got  the  colors,  let  us 
go  with  the  colors  ;  '  so  they  threw  down  their  guns  and 
marched  to  the  rear  as  my  prisoners.  When  I  got  back  to 
our  line,  Col.  Curtiss  told  me  to  take  them  away,  for  we 
might  get  driven  back  at  any  moment. 

"  I  recrossed  the  works  and  started  for  our  rear,  when  I 
met  General  Hancock  and  staff  going  to  the  front.  As  he 
passed  I  saluted  him.  He  returned  the  salute,  and  said, 
'  What  have  you  got  there  ?  '  I  told  him  a  stand  of  col 
ors  I  had  captured  in  the  front.  He  then  asked  me  if 
those  were  my  prisoners.  I  told  him  they  were.  He 
looked  at  some  of  his  staff  and  smiled  (I  thought  at  the 
time  a  little  incredulously),  for  there  were  five  or  six  lusty 
rebels  and  I  was  at  that  time  about  eighteen  years  old. 


76  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPOTTSYL  VANIA. 

Then  he  said,  '  You  deliver  your  prisoners  to  the  provost 
marshal  and  write  your  name,  company  and  regiment  with 
the  date  of  the  occasion  on  a  slip  of  paper,  and  pin  it  on 
your  colors,  and  turn  them  in  to  the  adjutant  of  your  regi 
ment,' — which  I  did.  I  did  not  hear  anything  more  about 
it  till  in  the  following  winter  when  in  Campbell  Hospital, 
suffering  from  a  wound  received  at  the  battle  of  Boydton 
Plank  Road,  on  the  left  of  Petersburg,  I  received  a  package. 
Upon  opening  it  I  found  it  to  be  a  Medal  of  Honor." 


LIEUT.    CHARLES    H.    FASNACHT, 

NINETY-NINTH       PENNSYLVANIA       INFANTRY. 

II.  SERGEANT   FASNACHT'S   ADVENTURES.* 

"On  the  evening  of  the  eleventh  day  of  May,    1864,   the 
Ninety-ninth  Regiment  Pennsylvania   Veteran   Volunteers 


*  CHARLES  H.  FASXACHrwas  born  March  27,  1842,  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania. 
Enlisted  in  1861,  in  the  Ninety-ninth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  for  three  years. 
Re-enlisted  February,  1864.  Served  continuously  with  his  regiment,  excepting  seven 
months  in  hospital  from  wounds  received  at  Chancellorsville  and  Spottsylvania.  Pro 
moted  corporal  and  sergeant  and  mustered  out  of  service,  with  regiment,  as  first  lieuten 
ant  July.  1865.  Received  the  MEDAL  OF  HONOR;  Silver  Medal  from  the  Directors  of  the 
U.  S.  Sanitary  Fair  at  Philadelphia  in  1864  ;  and  the  Bronze  "  Kearney  Badge" 


THE  NINE TY-NINTH  PENNSYL I  'AN/A.  ^ 

was  lying  back  to  the  right  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
Virginia.  The  men  were  somewhat  exhausted,  having  had 
fighting  and  marching  in  the  Wilderness  since  the  5th  day 
of  May.  Rations  were  issued  between  seven  and  eight 
o'clock  P.M.  About  nine  o'clock  P.M.  the  troops  of  the 
2d  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  J.  Hobart  Ward,  3d  Di 
vision  (Birney),  Second  Corps  (Hancock),  received  orders  to 
fall  in,  and  shortly  afterward  the  march  to  the  left  com 
menced. 

"  The  Ninety-ninth  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Edwin  R. 
Biles,  and  was  the  leading  regiment  of  the  division,  being 
preceded  by  Generals  Birney  and  Ward,  with  their  staff 
officers,  and  the  pioneer  corps.  The  night  was  very  dark, 
and  rain  was  falling  nearly  all  the  time.  The  men  had 
orders  to  keep  very  quiet,  and  allow  no  noise  from  the 
rattling  of  canteens  or  other  equipments.  The  rank-and- 
file  had  an  idea  that  the  Second  Corps  was  marching  for 
some  vulnerable  point  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  that  as 
Birney's  Division  (composed  of  what  was  left  of  the  old 
Third  Corps)  was  leading,  it  meant  that  on  the  morrow 
desperate  work  was  before  us. 

"  Nothing  occurred  during  this  weary  march  until  after 
midnight.  We  could  hear,  now  and  then,  all  through  the 
night,  away  off  to  our  left,  the  soldiers  of  Lee  chopping 
wood ;  while  away  off  to  our  right  could  be  heard  the 
rumbling  noise  of  artillery.  The  quiet  and  stillness  of  this 
steady  march  through  rain  and  mud  was  almost  unbear 
able.  Some  of  the  men  were  tramping  along  almost 
asleep ;  in  fact,  on  several  occasions  muskets  dropped  from 
the  shoulders  of  weary  men.  Now  and  then  a  comrade 


78  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO TTS  YL  VANIA. 

would  ask  in  a  whisper,  '  What  does  this  mean  ? '  or, 
'  Where  are  we  going?  '  But  no  answer  could  be  given,  as 
no  one  knew,  except  only  those  high  in  command. 

u  Company  A  of  our  regiment  was  leading,  and  kept  well 
closed  up  to  Colonel  Biles,  who  was  just  behind  the  staff  of 
Generals  Birney  and  Ward.  And  as  we  were  thus  march 
ing  silently  along,  with  a  soldier's  steady  tramp,  suddenly 
the  horses  and  their  riders  in  our  front  came  back  pell  mell, 
scattering  the  men  in  every  direction.  Every  man  grasped 
his  musket  more  tightly,  with  hand  on  trigger,  believing 
the  enemy  was  at  hand.  The  cause  of  this  stampede  was 
soon  discovered.  A  soldier  in  the  pioneer  corps  in  front 
had  accidentally  discharged  his  musket,  which  scared  horses, 
staff  officers  and  others  who  were  near.  It  must  have  been 
between  one  and  two  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  May  12, 
when  the  head  of  our  column  arrived  at  its  place  of  destina 
tion,  and  our  company  commenced  to  '  right  by  file  into 
line  ;  '  and  for  a  long  while  after,  the  troops  were  passing 
in  our  rear  and  forming  in  line  to  our  left,  with  our  regi 
ment  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  corps.  The  ground  was 
wet  and  all  around  was  darkness.  The  men  in  the  ranks  had 
no  idea,  as  yet,  of  what  was  to  be  done  in  the  morning.  But 
the  veteran  soldiers  who  composed  that  line  knew  by  instinct 
that  daylight  would  see  heavy  fighting.  WTith  this  belief,  the 
men  were  soon  'lying  on  their  arms,'  dreaming  of  home 
and  loved  ones.  The  writer  hereof  was  in  l  light  marching 
order,'  having  nothing  but  haversack,  canteen  and  rubber 
blanket,  besides  his  trusty  Springfield  musket.  So  with 
my  rubber  blanket  wrapped  around  me,  a  soft  spot  in  rear 
of  the  company  was  found,  where  I  also  was  soon  lost 


AN  EARLY  MORNING  WALK.  yg 

in  dreamland.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  was 
awakened  by  being  punched  in  the  ribs  with  an  officer's 
sword,  and  hearing  a  rustling  noise,  and  low  talk  of  the 
officers  and  men  in  my  front.  Jumping  to  my  feet  I  dis 
covered  that  the  line  was  commencing  to  move  forward. 

"The  men  were  told  that  we  were  advancing  to  charge 
the  enemy's  works,  supposed  to  be  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
in  our  front,  but  which  could  not  be  seen  from  our  starting- 
point.  Colonel  Biles  also  ordered  the  men  not  to  fire  a 
shot  or  give  a  cheer  until  we  were  inside  the  rebel  earth 
works;  this  was  to  take  the  enemy  by  surprise.  At  start- 
ing,  we  advanced  through  a  swamp,  overgrown  with  briers 
and  small  trees.  After  going  about  one-third  of  a  mile  we 
came  out  into  a  clearing  on  high  ground.  The  line  by 
this  time  being  somewhat  out  of  shape,  it  was  straightened 
while  still  advancing.  It  was  now  daylight,  and  the  en 
emy's  works  could  be  seen  about  one-third  of  a  mile  in 
our  front,  running  along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  parallel 
with  our  advancing  line  of  battle. 

"These  works  looked  formidable  at  that  distance,  and 
proved  so,  later  on,  when  we  crossed  them.  A  great  many 
low  camp-fires  were  burning  in  the  woods  behind  the 
enemy's  line,  while  still  others  were  being  started  ;  no 
doubt  to  dry  clothing  and  to  prepare  for  an  early  breakfast. 
The  smoke  of  these  fires,  mingled  with  the  fog,  was  hover 
ing  a  few  feet  from  the  ground.  What  force  the  enemy 
had  could  not  be  known,  as  only  here  and  there  a  sentry 
could  be  seen  on  the  intrenchments ;  nor  did  anyone  in 
our  line  have  time  to  scan  very  closely. 

"  As  our  line  came  out  in  this  open  ground,  where  it  got  a 


8o  THE  SALIENT  A  7"  S2JOTTSYL  VAN1A. 

glimpse  of  the  rebel  earthworks,  some  soldier  away  off  to 
our  left,  who  could  not  hold  in  any  longer,  gave  a  cheer. 
It  was  against  orders,  but  it  started  the  cheering  along  our 
whole  line,  and  the  rebel  pickets  commenced  to  fire  on  us, 
while  the  enemy  was  seen  to  rush  up  to  their  works.  But 
our  line  swept  on.  Colonel  Biles  told  us  now  that  the  faster 
we  went,  and  the  quicker  we  got  over  the  enemy's  works, 
the  better  it  would  be  for  us. 

CAPTURING   A   FLAG  AT   SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

"  The  assaulting  column  was  composed  of  Birney's  Divis 
ion  on  the  right,  Barlow's  Division  on  the  left,  with  Mott 
and  Gibbon's  divisions  supporting ;  my  company  (A),  QQth 
P.  V.  V.,  being  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  line.  As  we 
advanced,  it  was  discovered  that  on  our  right  there  was  a 
gap  in  the  line,  which  was  afterward  filled  up  by  troops  (I 
think)  of  the  Sixth  Corps. 

"  When  the  colonel  gave  the  order  to  get  over  the  enemy's 
works,  the  regiment  started  on  'the  double-quick.'  At 
this  time,  and  while  yet  five  hundred  yards  distant,  a  rebel 
flag  was  raised  over  the  works  right  in  front  of  my  com 
pany.  The  man  holding  it,  waved  it  to  and  fro,  as  if  invit 
ing  us  to  come  on.  Long  before  this  I  had  an  ambition  to 
capture  a  rebel  flag  in  actual  battle  ;  not  to  pick  it  up  from 
where,  perhaps,  it  had  been  lost  by  its  bearer,  who  being 
shot  down  had  left  it  on  the  ground  ;  I  wanted  to  be  able 
to  say  that  it  was  actually  a  captured  flag. 

"I  was  behind  the  company  as  a  'file  closer,' being  a 
sergeant  at  the  time.  I  ran  around  the  right  and  in  front 
of  the  company.  We  had  swept  the  enemy's  pickets  from 


THE  ASSAULT.  8l 

before  us  ;  the  rebels  were  crowding  to  their  works  ;  their 
fire  was  getting  very  warm,  and  opposite  the  gap  on  our 
right  the  enemy  had  a  battery  which  opened  a  flank  fire  on 
our  regiment.  By  this  time  the  Ninety-ninth  was  pretty 
close  to  the  enemy's  works,  and  their  strength  was  evident. 
In  times  like  this  every  man  in  the  ranks  must,  for  the  time, 
be  a  general  himself ;  that  is,  he  must  be  brave,  use  good 
judgment,  make  up  his  mind  in  a  moment,  and  take  advan 
tage  of  every  opportunity  to  overcome  the  enemy.  In 
short,  it  is  only  when  each  private  soldier  is  doing  his  whole 
duty,  feeling  the  responsibility  resting  upon  himself,  that 
the  general  commanding  will  have  his  orders  executed  and 
his  plans  crowned  with  success. 

"  As  we  came  nearer,  the  enemy's  fire  was  very  heavy,  the 
ditch,  about  eight  or  ten  feet  wide  in  front  of  the  works, 
being  nearly  filled  with  water  from  the  rain  in  the  night. 
In  front  of  the  ditch  limbs  of  trees  had  been  placed,  making 
a  strong  abatis.  When  Our  regiment  came  to  this,  the 
enemy's  fire  was  making  great  gaps  in  our  ranks,  but  we 
pressed  on,  tore  away  the  obstructions,  and  jumped  into 
the  ditch  (the  water  being  over  two  feet  deep  at  this  point) 
and  commenced  to  scale  the  works.  The  rebel  flag  was 
still  held  up  and  waved,  until  just  as  I  was  about  on  top  of 
the  works  calling  to  the  color-bearer  to  surrender,  and  mak 
ing  a  grab  for  it,  the  rebel  sergeant,  with  several  other  sol 
diers,  started  off  on  a  run  up  on  the  inside  of  the  works. 
At  this  hour  the  smoke  and  fog  were  still  near  the  ground 
in  the  woods,  and  one  could  see  but  a  very  short  distance 
ahead.  Tents  to  shelter  the  men  from  the  rain,  during  the 
night,  had  been  made  hastily  with  blankets  and  canvas. 
6 


82  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO TTSYL  VANIA. 

"  Thus  it  was  not  only  impossible  to  see  far  into  the 
dense  woods,  but  it  was  hard  to  get  through  and  over  these 
obstructions.  On  account  of  the  cheering  of  our  men  and 
the  delay  in  starting,  the  enemy  was  aware  of  our  move 
ment  before  we  got  over  his  works.  But  the  charge  was 
still  a  surprise  to  many  of  them,  and  a  grand  result  in  the 
end,  for  we  took  over  six  thousand  prisoners.  The  Confed 
erate  general,  Ewell,  made  a  narrow  escape  from  capture/* 

"  When  I  jumped  over  the  works  I  was  followed  by  our 
whole  regiment,  Colonel  Biles  being  right  behind  me. 
What  a  sight  to  behold  !  Confusion  all  around.  While 
many  of  the  enemy  had  rallied  to  the  works,  numbers  of 
them  were  found  in  their  rude  shelter-tents.  Some  were 
without  their  equipments  ;  they  were  firing  in  every  direc 
tion.  Some  had  just  begun  to  get  their  breakfast ;  others 
would  shoot  through  their  tents.  Our  men  tore  down 
everything  giving  shelter  to  the  enemy,  using  the  butt-encl 
of  the  musket  and  the  bayonet.  Our  men  seemed  to  be 
possessed  of  superhuman  strength  and  a  determination  to 
conquer  or  die,  right  then  and  there.  No  one  seemed  to 
see  or  fear  danger,  and  yet  we  were  right  in  the  midst  of  it, 
men  falling  all  around  us. 

"  Immediately  after  our  regiment  had  crossed  the  first 
line  of  works,  Colonel  Biles  made  a  half-wheel  to  the  right 
with  the  regiment,  intending  to  move  up  and  capture  a  bat 
tery  the  enemy  had  there. 

*  "  Hancock's  corps  captured  some  4000  prisoners — among  them  a  division  and  brigade 
commander — 20  or  more  guns  with  their  horses,  caissons  and  ammunition,  several  thou 
sand  stand  of  arms  and  many  colors.  Hancock,  as  soon  as  the  hand-to-hand  conflict  was 
over,  turned  the  guns  of  the  enemy  against  him,  and  advanced  inside  the  rebel  lines. 
About  six  o'clock  I  ordered  Warren's  Corps  to  the  support  of  Hancock."— Gen.  Granfs 
Memoirs. 


CAPTURING  A  FLAG.  g^ 

4i  From  the  time  that  I  first  saw  that  rebel  flag  waving  so 
defiantly  in  our  faces,  my  sole  object  was  to  get  it,  and  to 
that  end  all  my  energies  were  brought  in  play.  So  after  I 
was  inside  of  the  works  I  took  in  the  situation  in  a  moment. 
Knowing  the  direction  of  our  line  of  battle  toward  the  left, 
and  the  open  gap  on  our  right,  I  concluded  that  the  rebel 
color-bearer  would  try  to  escape  by  running  up  towards  the 
right,  and  then  cutting  through  the  woods.  I  started  on 
the  run,  diagonally  through  the  woods,  intending  to  head 
off  the  color-bearer.  The  distance  I  had  to  go  would  be 
shorter  than  his,  and  as  one  could  see  but  a  very  short 
distance  through  smoke,  fog  and  woods,  I  lost  sight  of  the 
flag  for  a  few  minutes.  But  I  had  run  probably  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards  over  all  kinds  of  obstructions,  when  my 
calculations  proved  correct  ;  for  suddenly  right  in  front  of 
me,  through  a  clump  of  trees,  came  this  same  color-bearer, 
carrying  aloft  his  flag,  and  behind  him  were  five  or  six  sol 
diers,  his  color-guard.  I  brought  my  musket  to  my  shoul 
der,  with  hand  on  trigger,  and  as  he  did  not  see  me  as 
soon  as  I  saw  him,  he  ran  almost  up  against  my  bayonet 
before  he  stopped.  True,  my  musket  was  empty  at  this 
time,  but  the  muzzle  of  an  empty  gun  at  such  close  quar 
ters  looks  almost  as  dangerous  as  a  loaded  one,  and  he  did 
not  know  but  that  it  was  loaded.  The  men  behind  him 
might  have  shot  me  down,  but  for  some  reason  did  not. 

"  So  when  we  met  at  that  instant  I  demanded  his  surren 
der  and  the  flag ;  he  asked  me  not  to  shoot  and  reached  the 
flag  towards  me.  I  did  not  lower  my  musket,  but  let  the 
flag  fall  at  my  feet,  and  told  him  to  go  to  my  rear,  which  he 
did  with  his  companions,  who  dropped  their  arms.  I  have 


84  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO TTSYL  VANIA. 

often,  since  then,  wondered  why  the  men  behind  him  did  not 
shoot,  but  I  suppose  they  were  in  the  same  fix  as  myself ; 
that  is,  their  muskets  were  empty.  When  the  color-bearer, 
who  was  a  man  fully  six  feet  tall,  had  passed  to  my  rear  I 
placed  my  foot  on  the  staff  and  tore  the  flag  off.  It  was  a 
flag  inscribed  with  many  battles,  and  the  words  '  2d  Louisi 
ana  TigreSy — a  good  fighting  regiment  in  the  Southern 
army,  and  one  that  we  had  met  on  many  a  battlefield 
before.  While  crowding  the  flag  into  my  bosom  under  my 
blouse,  absorbed  in  what  I  was  doing,  I  cared  little  for  what 
was  taking  place  around  me.  I  heard  some  one  say,  'You 
had  better  let  me  have  that.'  On  turning  my  head  I  dis 
covered  my  colonel,  for  the  first  time,  about  twelve  yards 
behind  me,  and  about  as  many  yards  in  front  of  the  regi 
ment  ;  he  had  taken  the  same  direction  with  the  regiment 
as  I  had.  When  I  saw  from  whom  came  the  voice,  I  gave 
him  such  a  look  (continuing  to  stow  the  flag  away)  that  in 
after  years  he  told  me  that  he  saw  very  plainly  I  did  not 
wish  to  part  with  my  prize,  and  he  therefore  told  me  to 
keep  it. 

WITH   THE   WOUNDED    UNDER   FIRE. 

"  By  this  time  the  regiment  had  advanced  some  distance 
to  a  line  of  works  running  at  right  angles  from  the  first  to 
the  second  line  of  defence,  behind  which  the  enemy  had  ral 
lied  to  the  support  of  some  artillery.  Our  regiment  at  this 
time  was  on  the  flank  and  rear  of  these  pieces,  and  the 
enemy,  seeing  the  hopelessness  of  holding  out,  just  as  we 
were  about  charging,  raised  white  flags,  in  the  shape  of 
handkerchiefs  and  pieces  of  tents,  in  token  of  surrender. 


WOUNDED  AND  UNDER  EIRE.  g^ 

We  called  out  to  them  to  come  over  the  works  without 
their  arms,  and  they  embraced  the  opportunity  as  fast  as 
possible.  At  this  time  a  heavy  fire  from  the  second  line  of 
works  was  opened  on  us,  while  quite  a  large  number  who 
had  been  driven  before  us  took  refuge  on  the  outside  of 
the  first  line,  and  were  also' firing  into  us.'*  Just  as  I  had 
stepped  back  a  few  feet  to  make  room  for  these  men  who 
were  surrendering,  a  volley  from  the  enemy  on  our  right 
and  front  was  poured  into  us,  killing  and  wounding  a  large 
number.  I  fell  shot,  by  a  minie-ball,  in  my  left  leg  at  the 
knee  joint.  Brave  Captain  Lewis  F.  Waters  of  '  I,'  and 
Lieutenant  Henry  S.  Zeisert  of  l  D,'  both  fell  alongside  of 
me,  instantly  killed. 

"  I  was  picked  up  and  carried  back  to  the  first  line  we  had 
crossed,  where  Sergeants  McGrann  and  Ursprung  took  me 
further  back  about  one-half  mile,  when  our  provost-guard 
was  met  ;  they  ordered  all  the  wounded,  who  could  not 
walk,  to  be  laid  on  the  ground,  and  the  carriers  to  return  to 
their  regiments.  The  men  with  the  stretchers  were  not  up 
yet,  and  we  remained  in  this  clearing  for  an  hour  or  more. 
This  one  hour  seemed  an  entire  day,  surrounded  as  I  was 
by  several  hundred  wounded  men  who  could  not  walk. 
We  laid  on  the  bare  ground  like  so  many  sheaves  of  wheat, 
unable  to  move  or  get  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  shells 
and  solid  shot  that  were  striking  the  ground  all  around  us, 
their  artillery  having  a  good  range  of  this  part  of  the  field. 


*  "  Lee  made  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to  regain  the  position  he  had  lost.  Troops 
wore  brought  up  and  attacked  Hancock  furiously.  Hancock  was  forced  to  fall  back:  but 
he  did  so  slowly,  with  his  face  to  the  enemy,  inflicting  on  them  heavy  loss,  until  behind 
the  breastworks  he  had  captured.  These  he  turned,  facing  them  the  other  way,  and  con 
tinued  to  hold." — Gen.  Grant's  Memoirs. 


86  THE  SALIENT  AT  SPOTTSYLVAN1A. 

With  all  my  pain  I  couldn't  help  but  smile  at  some  of  the 
odd  expressions  and  ludicrous  scenes,  when  a  shell  or  solid 
shot  would  strike  close  to  some  unfortunate  and. scatter  the 
dust  all  around.  Some  would  berate  the  provost-guard, 
severely,  for  leaving  us  lying  there,  to  be  scared  to  death  if 
not  killed  outright  by  the  enemy's  missiles ;  others,  with 
mangled  arms  or  legs,  would  try  and  roll  themselves  away 
from  a  shell  or  round  shot,  as  it  struck  the  ground  near 
them,  making  some  witty  remark. 

"  No  pen  can  fully  describe,  nor  pencil  do  justice  to,  this 
scene ;  several  acres  of  ground  covered  with  wounded  sol 
diers,  enduring  untold  pain,  without  attention  or  medical 
treatment,  and  under  the  constant  fire  of  the  enemy's 
artillery.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  bravest  of  the 
brave  under  such  circumstances  will  weaken,  and  wish  for  a 
place  of  safety. 

"  At  last,  after  an  hour  or  so,  the  stretcher-bearers  came, 
and  I  was  taken  away  from  this  place  to  an  ambulance,  and 
driven  to  the  rear,  about  two  miles,  to  a  little  grove.  On 
one  side  of  this  grove  ran  a  small  stream  of  water,  and  on 
the  other  a  road,  an  open  field  beyond  the  road,  a  cornfield 
on  the  other  side  of  the  stream,  a  little  rise  or  hill  in  our 
rear,  and  in  front  a  heavy  woods  into  which  the  road 
entered.  These  were  the  surroundings  of  the  place  where 
I  was  doomed  to  remain  a  prisoner  for  five  days. 

"  It  was  probably  a  little  after  noon  when  we  were  brought 
to  this  place.  There  was  great  activity  all  the  afternoon  in 
loading  up  the  wounded  into  ambulances,  and  toward  even 
ing  heavy  army  wagons  were  used.  As  darkness  had  set  in 
I  saw  the  last  wagon  filled  and  drive  away,  as  they  said,  for 


CAPTIVITY  ON  THE  BATTLEFIELD.  37 

Fredericksburg  Hospital.  It  now  dawned  upon  me  that  I 
was  one  of  the  unfortunate  two  hundred  and  twenty  who 
were  doomed  to  remain,  for  we  were  soon  told  by  a  surgeon 
that  one  hospital  steward  and  ten  men  were  left  in  charge 
of  us ;  that  we  should  try  and  be  contented  and  see  what 
would  turn  up  in  our  favor;  that  he  would  do  all  he  could 
to  make  us  as  comfortable  as  lay  in  his  power.  The  sur 
geon  (whose  name  I  have  forgotten)  had  but  a  small 
amount  of  stores  with  him,  and  could  give  but  little  medi 
cal  treatment  to  us  ;  he  and  his  men  were  busy  day  and 
night  carrying  water  and  food  to  us ;  besides,  they  had  to 
dig  graves  and  bury,  on  an  average,  ten  of  our  number 
daily. 

CAPTIVITY   ON   THE   BATTLEFIELD. 

"On  the  morning  of  May  13,  about  nine  o'clock,  a  brigade 
of  Confederate  cavalry,  under  General  Rosser  (since  Engineer 
of  the  Northern  Pacific  R.  R.),  and  known  as  the  'Laurel 
Brigade '  (their  badge  being  a  sprig  of  green  pinned  on 
the  left  breast),  came  marching  over  the  brow  of  the  hill 
behind  us.  My  place  being  quite  close  to  the  road,  I  heard 
the  general  give  orders  to  one  of  his  aides  not  to  allow  his 
men  to  go  among  the  wounded,  nor  to  disturb  anything. 
But  as  soon  as  the  head  of  the  column  had  disappeared  in 
the  woods,  the  Confederates  swarmed  in  among  us,  asking 
all  manner  of  questions,  and  teasing  us  with  the  assurance 
that  soon  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  would  be  driven  back 
across  the  Rappahannock  River.  But  we  were  rather  out 
spoken  in  telling  them  that  a  new  commander,  '  GRANT,' 
was  at  the  head  of  our  army,  and  that  there  would  be  no 


8 8  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO TTS  YL  VA NIA . 

retreat  and  no  stop  this  side  of  Richmond.  None  of  our 
wounded  were  molested,  but  the' newcomers  took  nearly  all 
the  meat,  sugar  and  coffee  that  had  been  left  for  us. 

"  The  evening  before,  we  could  hear  firing  until  late  at 
night,  and  this  morning  the  firing  seemed  further  away;  we 
were  now  told  that  we  were  outside  of  our  lines,  and  that 
our  army  had  moved  further  on  towards  Lee's  right.  After 
the  Confederate  cavalry  had  passed  out  of  sight,  into  the 
woods,  I  concluded  to  look  at  my  rebel  flag,  which  was  still 
in  my  bosom,  not  having  looked  at  it  since  the  day  before. 
I  asked  the  hospital  steward  to  assist  me.  I  had  on  at  the 
time  a  short  army  blouse,  made  for  me  the  winter  previous 
by  a  Philadelphia  tailor.  It  was  lined  throughout  and  filled 
in  with  cotton  wadding.  I  took  off  my  blouse  and  secreted 
the  flag  under  a  piece  of  old  army  blanket  and  placed  it 
under  my  legs.  We  next  opened  the  lining  at  the  back  of 
the  blouse  and  pulled  out  all  the  wadding,  then  stuffed  the 
rebel  flag  in  and  pinned  up  the  lining,  after  which  I  put  on 
the  blouse  ;  and  no  one  could  notice  it,  except  that  I  ap 
peared  rather  stout.  We  had  to  be  very  careful  while  doing 
this  so  that  no  one  could  see  the  flag,  especially  the  six 
wounded  Confederates,  who  were  lying  about  one  hundred 
feet  away  from  me.  I  was  afraid  that  if  the  rebel  soldiers 
should  find  it  out  they  would  take  the  flag  away  from  me  ; 
and  as  I  had  no  other  place  to  hide  it,  and  as  it  was  a 
trophy  that  I  prized  very  highly,  I  determined  to  keep  it 
with  me  as  long  as  I  possibly  could. 

"  We  had  barely  got  through  with  our  work  when  we  heard 
scattered  musketry  in  the  direction  the  Confederate  cavalry 
had  taken,  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  whole  brigade  came 


"THE  LAUREL  BRIGADE." 


89 


back  pell  mell ;  the  road  not  being  wide  enough,  many  of 
the  cavalry  came  through  the  woods  and  brought  back  with 
them  several  wounded  men.  They  had  been  gone  only  two 
or  three  hours,  and  all  that  we  could  find  out  as  to  their 
sudden  return  was  that  after  they  had  gone  out  several 
miles  they  came  across  some  of  the  Union  cavalry,  who 
drove  them  back.  After  this  episode,  General  Rosser,  with 
his  brigade,  made  his  camp  right  alongside  of  us  in  the  open 
field,  and  remained  four  or  five  days.  Their  officers  paid 
frequent  visits  to  our  wounded,  conversing  with  us,  and 
paying  a  good  deal  of  attention  to  their  own  six  wounded 
who  lay  amongst  us.  These  Confederate  officers  told  us 
that  they  were  only  camped  there  for  the  purpose  of  captur 
ing  our  ambulances  that  would  be  sent  there  for  us,  and 
that  then  they  would  take  us  in  our  own  wagons  to  Rich 
mond.  We  were  anxious  to  find  out  what  would-be  our 
fate,  and  this  was  certainly  bad  news  to  us.  The  horrors  of 
Libby  Prison,  Belle  Isle,  Andersonville  and  other  Southern 
prisons,  arose  before  us  in  their  vivid  forms,  and  I  made  up 
my  mind  that  death  would  be  my  fate  if  I  was  taken  on  to 
Richmond.  For  three  years  past  I  had  been  striving  with 
thousands  of  other  Northern  soldiers  to  get  to  the  Confed 
erate  capital,  and  now  that  in  all  probability  an  opportunity 
would  be  given  to  go  there  I  did  not  wish  to  accept  it.  I 
set  my  wits  together  to  devise  some  plan  whereby  I  could 
outflank  this  latest  of  Confederate  movements  on  my  lib 
erty.  I  had  some  hopes  that  our  cavalry  would  come  in 
there  after  General  Rosser,  and  find  us  and  take  us  away. 
But  five  long,  weary  days  passed  and  no  sign  of  a  Union 


90  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO  TTS  YL  VA  N1A . 

soldier   coming    from   any  direction.     Was    it    any  wonder 
then  that  despondency  took  possession  of  all  of  us? 

DELIVERANCE. 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  day  of  our  captivity,  several 
Confederate  officers  came  among  us  and  told  us  to  be  pre 
pared  to  leave  by  next  morning,  as  they  would  then  bring 
their  own  conveyances  and  take  us  away.  During  these 
days  I  had  planned  out  a  course  to  take,  and  now  I  had  but 
a  few  hours  to  make  my  preparations.  I  again  called  on 
the  hospital  steward,  and  told  him  my  plan  ;  that  he  was  to 
get  me  two  small  limbs  with  forks  on  them,  and  by  wrap 
ping  pieces  of  old  blankets  around  them  I  would  make  use 
of  them  for  crutches.  That  in  the  night  I  would  try  and 
drag  myself  across  the  little  run  of  water  and  into  the  corn 
field,  where  I  would  hide  myself  until  the  Confederate  cav 
alry  had  departed  with  the  wounded.  I  would  then  get  out 
of  the  cornfield  and  run  my  chances  of  being  picked  up  by 
some  Union  cavalry,  or  die  in  my  effort  to  escape  rather 
than  go  a  wounded  prisoner  to  Richmond.  The  hospital 
steward  listened  to  my  plan,  told  me  it  was  risky,  but  he 
would  assist  me  all  he  could,  and  wished  me  success.  Be 
fore  dark,  that  evening,  I  was  ready  for  my  undertaking. 
But  *  man  proposes  and  God  disposes,'  for  while  I  was 
worrying  my  brain  over  what  would  be  my  fate  in  the  next 
few  days,  a  movement  by  some  of  our  troops  was  being  ex 
ecuted  for  our  rescue. 

"  It  seems  that  our  situation  had  been  made  known  to 
army  headquarters,  and  a  small  division  of  infantry  (I  think 
it  was  Mott's  White  Diamond  Division),  and  a  battery  of 


OUT  OF  B OA TDA  GE.  Q  , 

artillery  were  on  their  way  to  our  relief,  and  just  before 
sunset,  while  sitting  on  the  ground  with  my  back  against  a 
tree,  a  wounded  soldier,  lying  not  far  from  me,  cried  out 
loud  enough  for  all  of  us  to  hear  him  :  *  Look  up  there  on 
the  hill  ! '  Turning  my  head  and  looking  towards  the  hill, 
I  saw  that  a  piece  of  artillery  was  unlimbering,  and  the  in 
fantry  were  moving  up  to  support  it,  when  several  other 
pieces  were  run  up  and  placed  in  position.  But  the  first 
piece  fired  one  shot  into  General  Rosser's  cavalry  before 
they  knew  that  there  were  any  Union  troops  near.  The 
echo  of  the  first  shot  had  not  died  away  before  three  more 
pieces  were  firing  in  rapid  succession.  In  the  Confederate 
camp  all  was  confusion  ;  horses  tore  loose,  officers  were 
calling  to  the  men,  and  everybody  was  looking  out  for  his 
own  safety.  And  it  took  General  Rosser  and  his  men  but 
a  very  short  time  to  get  away  from  that  place,  and  their 
speed  was  accelerated  by  the  Union  shot  and  shell.  Never 
before  nor  since  did  I  experience  such  real  happiness  as  at 
that  moment,  when  these  friends,  wearing  the  loyal  blue 
uniform,  came  marching  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes  so 
unexpectedly  to  our  rescue.  There  were  wounded  soldiers 
among  our  number,  more  dead  than  alive,  who  would  rise  up 
and  faintly  cheer  at  the  sight  of  the  old  flag  and  friends,  and 
then  fall  back  exhausted,  weeping  for  joy.  Men  grasped 
each  other  by  the  hand,  and  with  tears  in  their  eyes  praised 
God  for  this  unexpected  deliverance.  Yet  in  our  feeble 
condition  we  tried  to  give  a  few  parting  words  to  General 
Rosser's  men,  as  they  so  hastily  took  their  departure.  We 
twitted  them  on  their  unceremonious  going  away  without 
us  ;  asked  them  how  soon  they  would  return  :  but  they  paid 


92  THE  SALIENT  A  T  SPO TTSYL  VANIA. 

no  heed  to  our  remarks,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  they 
had  all  disappeared,  leaving  behind  a  few  wounded  and 
prisoners.  In  less  than  one  half  hour  ambulances  were 
driven  up  and  we  were  carefully  lifted  into  them,  so  that  by 
eight  o'clock  that  evening  the  last  Union  wounded  soldier 
had  been  loaded  and  the  ambulance  train  with  its  escort  was 
ready  to  start  for  Fredericksburg.  As  already  stated,  there 
were  two  hundred  and  twenty  of  us  who  were  brought  here, 
but  about  fifty  had  died. 

"  It  was  about  eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  May  16 
that  our  train  started.  I  had  been  placed  on  the  seat  with 
the  driver,  with  my  leg  in  a  swing,  and  tied  to  the  roof  of 
the  ambulance,  and  in  driving  along  that  night  through  the 
darkness,  over  rough  roads,  the  wheels  would  strike  a  rut 
or  stone  and  give  my  leg  a  jerk  that  would  send  the  pain  all 
through  my  body,  and  jolt  those  lying  in  behind,  who  would 
hurl  uncomplimentary  remarks  at  the  driver,  for  causing 
them  so  much  pain.  About  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning 
our  train  arrived  at  Fredericksburg,  where  it  was  intended 
to  place  us  in  hospitals ;  but  all  the  houses  that  could  be 
made  use  of  were  already  filled  with  the  wounded  from  the 
Wilderness. 

MINISTERING   ANGELS. 

"  We  were  then  given  coffee  and  bread,  and  after  some 
delay  our  ambulance  train  was  started  off  across  the  Rappa- 
hannock  River,  towards  *  Belle  Plain,'  on  the  Potomac  River, 
where  we  arrived  early  that  evening.  It  was  about  nine 
o'clock  that  evening  when  I  was  carried  on  board  of  a  barge 
which  was  afterwards  towed  out  to  a  large  Government 


MINISTERING  ANGELS.  ^3 

boat  in  the  middle  of  the  stream.  Shortly  after,  I  was  laid 
on  the  barge,  where  a  few  flickering  lamps  shed  their  dim 
light.  I  could  hear  s\veet  voices,  followed  by  some  of  the 
ladies  of  the  'Sanitary  Commissions.'  These  'minister 
ing  angels,'  with  lint,  medicines,  brandy,  milk-punch  and 
sandwiches,  went  from  cot  to  cot,  attending  to  the 
wounded  and  speaking  words  of  good  cheer.  Surely  the 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers  can  never  repay  the  debt  of 
gratitude  they  owe  to  the  loyal  and  patriotic  women  of  the 
North,  for  the  good  work  done  by  them  in  hospital  and  in 
camp  during  the  dark  days  of  the  war. 

"  During  the  night,  our  barge  was  towed  out  in  the  middle 
of  the  river  alongside  of  the  large  steam-boat,  to  which  its 
load  of  wounded  was  transferred,  being  placed  on  stretchers 
in  rows,  making  several  hundred  in  all.  The  flag  attracted 
a  great  deal  of  attention  in  the  hospital  at  Washington. 
One  gentleman,  when  he  saw  it  unfolded,  with  the  name 
and  number  of  the  regiment  it  belonged  to  printed  on  its 
stripes,  '  Second  Louisiana  Infantry,  C.  S.  A.,'  said  he  was 
in  New  Orleans  in  April,  1861,  when  this  same  flag  was  pre 
sented  to  the  regiment.  At  the  Armory  Square  Hospital, 
to  which  I  was  taken,  a  screen  was  put  up,  a  tub  of  water 
brought,  and  a  good  bath  given  me.  During  this  process 
the  surgeon  came  with  a  large  glass  of  brandy  and  told  me 
to  drink  it,  and  it  seems  to  me,  even  at  this  late  day,  that 
was  the  best  drink  I  ever  tasted.  I  was  now  dressed  with 
clean  under-clothing,  and  placed  in  a  bed  on  the  right  hand 
side,  next  to  the  entrance  door,  with  my  flag  fastened  on 
to  the  wall  over  my  head  ;  and  under  the  influence  of  what 
I  had  been  drinking,  and  the  sweet  strains  of  music  coming 


94  THE  S A  LI  EN  T  AT  SPO  TTS  YL  VANIA. 

from  a  piano  at  the  other  end  of  the  ward,  I  forgot  my 
pain,  and  was  soon  lost  in  slumber.  After  going  through 
with  what  I  had  the  previous  two  weeks,  I  indeed  now  felt 
as  if  I  was  in  Paradise. 

•X-  -X-  *  -X-  -X-  -X-  -X- 

"  After  remaining  in  hospital  at  Washington  and  Philadel 
phia  for  nearly  seven  months,  I  rejoined  my  regiment  in 
the  field  and  served  with  it  continuously  until  the  close  of 
the  war." 


THE  WILDERNESS — A  YEAR  AFTER. 


LIEUT.  THOMAS  PARKE  GERE, 

FIFTH  MINNESOTA  INFANTRY. 


THE  VICTORS  AND  THE  SPOILS. 

IT  was  upon  a  crisp,  bright  day  in  February,  1865,  that  an 
interesting  scene  might  have  been  witnessed  in  the  War 
Department  at  Washington. 

The  place  itself  was  one  of  the  lions  which  all  pilgrims  to 
the  Shrine  of  the  Constitution  thought  it  the  correct  thing 
to  visit. 

Young  officers,  who  for  the  first  time  entered  it  on  offi 
cial  business,  did  not  entirely  "leave  Hope  behind,"  but 
they  were  conscious  of  a  chill  in  the  region -of  the  back 
bone  as  the  old  green  leather  doors  swung  to  behind  them. 
The  corridors  were  dark  and  damp,  and  had  a  musty  odor 
from  the  tons  of  red-taped  official  papers  which  filled  the 
countless  pigeon-holes.  And  the  messengers,  sitting  on 
guard  at  the  doors  of  the  various  bureaux,  had  a  stern  and 

95 


BATTLE    RELICS. 


96 


THE  OLD  WAR  OFFICE.  Q7 

mysterious  air,  befitting  men  rilled  with  plans  of  battles 
and  secrets  of  the  Council  Chamber. 

There  are  pleasant  memories,  also,  of  the  ancient  struct 
ure  ;  of  the  time  when  the  stone-flagged  halls  echoed  the 
ponderous  tread  of  General  Scott,  with  the  front  of  Mars 
himself ;  or  resounded  with  the  stride  of  General  Harney, 
the  military  gladiator  of  his  time ;  or  reflected  the  jingle  of 
Charlie  May's  spurs,  or  rang  with  the  jolly  laugh  of  old 
Ben  Beall,  of  the  dragoons,  as  he  bandied  jests  with  Prince 
John  Magruder,  of  the  artillery,  careless  of  the  coming 
"chestnut  bell."  While,  later  on,  the  clank  of  Ouster's 
sabre  and  Sheridan's  quick  footfalls  mingled  with  the  run 
ning  to  and  fro  of  orderlies,  and  the  tinkle  of  the  great 
Secretary's  little  bell. 

But  the  quaint,  ark-shaped  edifice  has  been  torn  down, 
and  in  its  place  has  arisen  an  official  palace  of  marble  and 
iron  and  mahogany.  In  the  new  order  of  things  one  is  not 
impressed,  as  in  the  olden  time,  with  the  Spartan  simplicity 
which  belongs  to  the  God  of  War. 

I.   NASHVILLE   TROPHIES. 

Within  the  large  reception-room  of  the  War  Department 
there  had  assembled,  on  the  day  already  mentioned,  about 
one  hundred  persons. 

They  had  been  summoned  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
take  part  in  the  ceremony  of  receiving  certain  Confederate 
battle-flags  captured  at  the  battles  before  Nashville,  in 
December,  1864. 

In  the  centre  of  the  room  were  grouped  fifteen  gallant 
men  who,  in  hand-to-hand  combat,  had  perilled  their  lives 
7 


gS  THE   VICTORS  AND   THE  SPOJLS. 

to  secure  as  trophies  the  tattered  banners  now  proudly 
borne  as  spoils  of  war.  These  were  generally  young  men 
— some  of  them  mere  boys — whose  bronzed  faces  were 
flushed  with  pride  and  excitement.  In  front  of  these,  and 
in  a  sort  of  horseshoe  formation,  was  another  party.  Sena 
tors  and  Representatives,  war  governors,  members  of  foreign 
legations,  a  cabinet  minister,  the  Adjutant-general  of  the 
Army,  and  other  distinguished  personages  had  taken  a  half 
hour  from  their  public  duties  to  do  honor  to  these  brave 
Western  soldiers. 

The  spacious  room  had  been  cleared  of  furniture.  Near 
the  walls,  on  three  sides,  were  arranged  in  continuous  line  a 
number  of  muskets,  "  stacked."  Suddenly  the  hum  of  con 
versation  ceased,  and  a  short,  stout  man  with  square  shoul 
ders,  and  wearing  eye-glasses,  stepped  out  between  the  sol 
diers  and  the  civilians  and  unfolded  a  paper.  This  was  the 
famous  cabinet  minister,  whose  name  will  always  be  asso 
ciated  with  troublous  times — our  "  Reign  of  Terror."  He 
read  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

NASHVILLE,  TENN.,  Feb.  13,  1865. 
Special  Field  Orders,  No.  38. 

(Extract^) 

XIX.  By  virtue  of  permission  received  from  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War,  the  fol 
lowing  named  officers  and  enlisted  men,  captors  of  rebel  battle-flags,  at  the  battles  of 
Franklin,  Nov.  30,  1864,  and  the  battles  before  Nashville,  Dec.  15  and  16,  1864,  will  pro 
ceed  with  the  trophies  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  they  will  report  to  the  Honorable 
Secretary  of  War,  turning  over  to  him  the  flags  now  in  their  possession,  after  which  they 
will  rejoin  their  various  commands  in  the  field. 

The  detachment  will  be  in  charge  of  ist  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  THOMAS  P.  GERE,  sth  Regt. 
Minn.  Vet.  Vol.  Inf.,  who  will  be  accountable  for  their  good  conduct  while  en  route. 
The  Qr.  M.  Depmt.  will  furnish  the  necessary  transportation. 

ist  Lt.  (Adjt.)  Thos.  P.  Gere,  sth  Minn.  V.  V.  Infantry, 
ist  Lt.  O.  Colwell,  "  G"  Qsth  Ohio  V.  Infantry, 
ist  Lt.  C.  H.  McCleary,  "  C  "  jzA  Ohio  V.  Infantry, 
ist  Lt.  W.  T.  Simmons,  "  C"  nth  Mo.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Sergt.  A.  Ramsbottom,  "  K  "  gyth  O.  V.  Infantry. 
Sergt.  W.  Garrett,  4ist  O.  V.  Infantry. 


THOMAS  PARKE  GERE.  99 

Corpl./-  IV-  Parks,  "  F  "  nth  Mo.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Corpl.  L.  P.  Koltenback,  u  F  "  i2th  Iowa  Vol.  Infantry. 
Corpl.  G.  W.  Welch,  "A"  nth  Mo.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Corpl.  F.  Carr,  "  D  "  i24th  O.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Private  O.  W.  Smith,  "G  "  gsth  O.  V.  Infantry. 
Private  W.  May,  "  H  "  sad  Iowa  V.  Infantry. 
Private  G.  Stokes,  "C"  i22d  Ills.  V.  Infantry. 
Private  A.J.  Sloan,  "  H  "  izth  Iowa  V.  Infantry. 
Private  Wm.  F.  Moore,  "  C  "  ii/th  Ills.  V.  Infantry. 
Private  D.J.  Holcomb,  "  A  "  4ist  Ohio  V.  Infantry. 
Corpl.  H.  Collins,  ist  Tenn.  Cavalry. 

By  command  of  Major-General  THOMAS, 

WM.  D.  WHIPPLE,  Asst.  Adjt.  Genl. 

Lieutenant  Gere's  name  was  called.  A  slender  and 
earnest-looking  young  man  advanced,  flag  in  hand,  and 
made  these  remarks  :  * 

u  Mr.  Secretary  :  I  have  the  honor  and  pleasure  to  present 
to  you  the  colors  of  the  4th  Mississippi  Infantry,  C.  S.  A. 

"  The  capture  was  due,  and  should  be  credited,  to  the 
valor  of  the  soldiers  of  Hubbard's  Brigade,  McArthur's 
Division  of  A.  J.  Smith's  detachment,  Army  of  Tennessee. 
It  was  the  result  of  the  final  charge  upon  the  enemy's 
works  by  that  invincible  command  in  the  second  day's  bat 
tle.  Every  soldier  who  participated  in  that  assault  shares 
the  credit  of  the  captured  colors. 

"  This  brigade  had  a  record  previous  to  Nashville,  and 
its  services  had  been  recognized  in  the  promotion  of  its 
former  lion-hearted  leader,  Joseph  A.  Mower,  to  be  a  major- 
general. 

"  Smith's  detachment,  ten  thousand  strong,  made  up 
from  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  after  fol- 


*  THOMAS  PAKKE  GERE  was  originally  mustered  as  a  private,  Co.  "  B,"  Fifth  Regiment 
Minnesota  Infantry,  Jan.  17,  1862,  aged  19;  appointed  ist  sergeant,  March  6,  1862;  2d 
lieutenant,  March  14,  1862  ;  ist  lieutenant,  August  20,  1862  ;  regt.  adjutant,  March  19, 
1863 ;  brigade  adjutant,  March  7,  1864  ;  discharged,  April  5,  by  reason  of  expiration  of 
term  of  service. 


100  THE   VICTORS  AND  THE  SPOILS. 

lowing  the  fortunes  of  Grant  and  Sherman  from  Shiloh  to 
Vicksburg,  was,  much  to  its  regret,  made  an  orphan  by  the 
order  lending  it  for  sixty  days  to  the  Red  River  expedition, 
but  emerged  with  undimmed  record  from  that  campaign 
to  join  in  the  long  chase  of  Price  and  Marmaduke  *  through 
Arkansas  and  Missouri,  and  arrived  at  Nashville  just  in 
time  to  take  position  as  the  right  of  the  army  confronting 
Hood. 

"  Advancing  south-westerly  on  the  morning  of  December 
15,  from  the  Charlottesville  Pike,  in  echelon,  by  brigades,  the 
enemy  was  soon  encountered  and  steadily  driven,  through 
continuous  fighting,  some  three  miles  south  ;  at  night  our 
front  was  to  the  east  within  one-fourth  mile  of  the  Granny 
White  Pike,  our  pickets  on  that  road,  and  the  enemy's  left 
flank  was  completely  enveloped.  During  the  night  he 
extended  his  line  to  the  west  some  distance  beyond  our 
position,  again  fronting  north  ;  to  meet  which  dispositions 
our  front  was,  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th,  changed  to  the 
south,  and  our  portion  of  the  line  advanced  to  within  three 
hundred  yards  of  his  position.  Hubbard's  Brigade,  its  left 
now  on  the  Granny  White  Pike,  just  north  of  the  Brent- 
wood  Hills,  was  in  an  open  field,  protected  only  by  such 
works  as  the  soldier  had  learned  to  hastily  construct  under 
fire.  The  enemy's  line  was  behind  a  stone  wall,  in  front  of 
which  during  the  preceding  night  he  had  constructed  a 
strong  ditch  and  abatis ;  and  between  us  only  a  cornfield. 
Our  batteries  took  position  on  higher  ground  to  our  rear, 
and  opened  upon  the  enemy's  line.  The  enemy's  batteries 

*  See  "  Capturing  a  Major-General,"  p.  107. 


BATTLE  OF  NASHVILLE.  ,o, 

in  our  front  were  in  his  main  line,  but  the  short  distance- 
between  the  lines  prevented  any  exposure  whatever. 
These  relative  positions  were  maintained  until  about  3.30 
P.M.,  at  which  time  we  received  the  order  to  assault.  Elo 
quent  speakers  have  detailed  the  history  of  the  succeeding 
minutes  .that  made  the  soft  cornfield  '  the  battle's  gory 
meadow/ 

"  The  command  swept  through  the  carnage,  over  the 
works,  capturing  everything.  In  forming  for  the  assault 
in  two  lines  an  interval  was  left  between  our  brigade  and 
the  troops  on  our  right,  which  subjected  the  brigade  to  an 
enfilading  fire,  but  by  sheer  momentum  the  assaulting  col 
umn  cut  straight  through  and  landed  beyond  the  opposing 
line.  Quickly  discerning  that  the  enemy  in  this  interven 
ing  space  were  our  prisoners,  we  swept  down  their  flank, 
pushing  them  to  our  rear.  This  is  where  the  capture  of 
these  colors  took  place.*  I  reached  the  works  near  the 
right  of  the  brigade,  but  my  horse  could  not  cross  the 
abatis  and  wall ;  so  with  the  troops  hurrying  along  the 
enemy's  works  to  our  right  we  came  upon  the  colors.  I 
was  a  little  in  advance  in  this  movement.  The  color-bearer 
leaped  over  the  works  toward  our  rear  with  the  others, 
leaving  the  colors  behind  the  works.  I  could  not  reach 
them,  but  compelled  him  to  recross  and  deliver  the  flag. 

"  That  second  day's  battle  at  Nashville  was  the  most 
complete  rout  of  the  enemy  that  I  ever  witnessed,  and  had 
the  assault  taken  place  as  early  as  noon  I  don't  think  any 
thing  could  have  prevented  the  capture  of  Hood's  entire 

*  All  that  follows  is  taken  from  a  recent  letter  (Aug.,  1886)  written  by  Lieut.  Gere. 


102 


THE   VICTORS  AND  THE  SPOILS. 


army  ;  but  it  was  wet  and  misty  and  soon  became  dark. 
The  Rebs  were  completely  broken  up  by  that  charge  ;  they 
were  tired  and  hungry,  and  did  not  offer  much  opposition 
to  capture  after  the  works  were  reached.  I  carried  a 
1  revolver  '  in  hand  during  the  melee,  and  as  everybody 
was  *  shooting  quite  promiscuously '  they  complied  very 
promptly  with  our  orders  to  move  to  our  rear.  I  had  been 
slightly  wounded  in  the  right  wrist  the  day  before,  but  for 
got  about  it  until  the  excitement  was  over." 

Lieut.  Gere  also  delivered  to  the  Secretary,  on  behalf  of 
Lieut.  CHARLES  MCCLEARY,  who  was  absent,  the  flag  of 
the  4th  Florida  Regiment.  McCleary,  being  in  advance  of 
the  Union  line  of  battle,  came  upon  the  rebel  color-bearer 
and  color-guard.  He  called  upon  them  to  surrender,  which 
they  at  first  declined  to  do ;  but,  as  he  insisted,  they  finally 
yielded  and  were  made  his  prisoners. 

Lieut.  OLIVER  COLWELL'S  trophy  was  also  handed  in  by 
Mr.  Gere. 

Lieut.  WILLIAM  T.  SIMMONS  presented  the  flag  of  the 
24th  Louisiana. 

Sergeant  ALFRED  RAMSBOTTOM  gave  into  the  Secre 
tary's  hands  the  flag  of  the  2d  Mississippi  regiment,  taken 
only  after  a  hand-to-hand  conflict. 

Sergeant  WILLIAM  GARRETT  turned  in  the  flag  of  the 
1 3th  Mississippi. 

Corporals  JAMES  W.  PARKS  and  LUTHER  B.  KALTEN, 
BACK  each  brought  forward  a  captured  color ;  the  last 
named  that  of  the  44th  Mississippi. 

Corporal  G.  W.  WELCH  offered  the  flag  of  the  I3th  Ala 


CORPORAL  COLLINS'  REVENGE.  lcr 

bama.     He  said  that  as   the  color-bearer  was  trying  to  es 
cape  he  shot  him  and  secured  the  trophy. 

When  Corporal  HARRISON  COLLINS  stepped  out  from 
the  group  the  Secretary  made  a  little  speech  to  his  deeply 
interested  auditors.  Said  he  : 

.  "  General  Croxton,  who  commands  the  force  to  which 
this  man  belongs,  praises  in  the  highest  terms  his  gallantry. 
I  am  sure  we  will  all  be  glad  to  hear  the  story  of  the  capt 
ure  from  the  lips  of  this  brave  soldier." 

Corporal  Collins  blushed  under  the  fire  of  so  many  big 
guns,  and  after  the  clapping  of  hands  had  subsided,  with 
a  little  urging  on  the  part  of  his  comrades,  he  said  : 

"Well,  gentlemen,  there  ain't  much  to  tell,  but  I'll  give 
you  the  story  the  best  I  can.  You  see,  last  December, 
when  General  Hood  advanced  toward  Nashville,  I  saw  that 
flag  rally  to  the  front.  For  thirteen  days  we  fell  back  in 
good  order  before  the  enemy ;  it  looks  now  as  if  we  were 
just  drawing  them  on.  That  flag  seemed  to  be  in  sight 
nearly  all  the  time.  I  shot  at  it  every  time  I  got  a  chance, 
sometimes  under  embarrassing  circumstances.  It  got  to  be 
so  provoking  that  I  made  up  my  mind  if  we  ever  got  a 
chance  I'd  pay  those  rebels  for  flaunting  that  there  flag  in 
our  faces.  After  our  army  rested  at  Nashville  for  a  week 
we  advanced  on  the  enemy,  and  it  was  now  their  turn  to 
fall  back,  which  they  did,  so  fast,  that  on  the  second  day 
it  ended  in  a  big  stampede.  On  the  third  day  I  caught 
sight  of  my  old  friend,  this  flag.  I  was  on  duty  with 
my  regiment — the  First  Tennessee  Cavalry — supporting"  a 
battery.  The  rebels  made  a  stand  at  a  creek  which  was 
bridged  in  our  front.  Part  of  them,  with  the  flag,  tried  to 


IO4 


THE   VICTORS  AND   THE  SPOILS. 


cross  lower  down.  Then  I  saw  my  chance.  Some  of  us 
charged.  I  was  soon  close  to  the  flag.  The  Confederate 
officer  ordered  some  of  his  men  to  dismount  and  '  ficrht  on 

o 

foot.'  Our  party  halted  here,  but  I  forgot  everything  but 
the  prize,  and  riding  through  the  dismounted  enemy,  over 
took  the  color-bearer  and  demanded  the  flag.  He  threw 
it  on  the  ground.  I  dismounted  and  picked  it  up. 

"  By  this  time  I  was  some  distance  in  advance,  and  as 
our  bugle  was  sounding  the  *  rally  '  I  turned  back  with 
my  trophy." 

Corporal  FRANK  CARR  recaptured  a  U.  S.  guidon  from 
the  enemy. 

"  So  you  recaptured  the  old  flag?"  inquired  the  Secre 
tary. 

"  Yes,"  was  Carr's  reply.  "  We  made  a  charge  and  were 
repulsed.  I  got  into  the  abatis,  and  couldn't  get  out.  A 
Johnnie  came  up  and  told  me  to  surrender.  I  wouldn't  do 
it,  but  put  on  my  bayonet  and  was  going  to  stand  a  fight. 
The  fellow  had  this  flag  sticking  out  of  his  breast.  I 
grabbed  it,  and  he  turned  and  ran  away." 

Private  OTIS  W.  SMITH  captured  the  battle-flag  of  the 
6th  Florida.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  leap  the  rebel 
works,  and  took  both  flag  and  bearer. 

Private  WILLIAM  MAY  presented  the  flag  of  Borran- 
cood's  Battery,  and  Private  ANDREW  J.  SLOAN  delivered 
the  colors  of  the  1st  Louisiana  Battery. 

Private  GEORGE  STOKES  and  DANIEL  J.  HOLCOMB  also 
transferred,  to  the  care  of  the  War  Department,  Confeder 
ate  flags. 
-  Private  WILLIAM  F.  MOORE  told  how  he  got  his  trophy, 


WARLIKE   TAPESTRY.  IQr 

a  battery  flag  of  Cheatham's  command.  He  said:  "The 
color-bearer  was  in  a  small  group  of  rebels  and  was  trying 
to  climb  the  hills.  I  shed  my  knapsack,  took  after  him  and 
a  captain  of  the  same  regiment  and  captured  both." 

As  each  man  advanced  to  deliver  his  trophy  it  was  re 
ceived  by  a  gray-headed  veteran  of  the  Mexican  War,  who, 
after  unfurling  the  flag,  laid  it  upon  the  musket-stacks  pro 
vided,  and  when  the  last  silken  standard  had  been  placed 
there  the  effect  was  brilliant  and  thrilling.  The  varied 
hues  of  the  rainbow  lighted  up  the  sombre  apartment  in  a 
blaze  of  color.  Each  face,  for  the  time  at  least,  glowed  with 
the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  occasion,  and  reflected  the  warm 
tints  of  the  tapestried  walls.  Was  ever  there  a  grander 
decoration  to  human  habitation — to  feudal  castle  or  impe 
rial  palace — than  these  battle-flags  ?  Embroidered  by  the 
hands  of  fair  women,  bearing  upon  their  folds  the  names 
of  bloody  battles  where  brave  Confederates  had  rallied  under 
them  again  and  again  ;  torn  by  conflict,  worn  by  tempest, 
they  had  at  last  fallen  by  the  fortune  of  war  into  the  hands 
of  the  victor.  The  Secretary,  beaming  with  genuine  pleas 
ure,  now  as  Master  of  Ceremonies,  presented  each  of  the 
notable  personages  to  the  heroes  of  the  hour;  each  received 
a  hearty  grasp  of  the  hand  and  a  word  of  encouragement 
which  none  of  them  was  likely  soon  to  forget. 

The  trophies  were  then  inspected  by  the  company,  and, 
when  the  last  dignitary  had  been  presented,  all  returned 
to  their  respective  groups  while  the  Secretary  of  War  ad 
dressed  Lieutenant  Gere  and  his  comrades  as  follows  : 

"  In  behalf  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  I 
return  to  you  its  thanks,  and  the  thanks  of  the  people  for 


IO6  THE   VICTORS  AND   THE  SPOILS. 

your  gallantry.  Accept  also  the  gratitude  of  this  Depart 
ment  for  yourselves  and  for  your  comrades-in-arms.  The 
Adjutant-general  will  be  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  flags 
with  the  descriptions  you  have  this  morning  given,  so  as 
to  connect  your  own  individual  histories  with  the  noble 
actions  by  which  they  were  captured.  He  will  also  be  or 
dered  to  present  to  each  one  of  you  a  Medal  of  Honor,  to  be 
worn  by  you  as  a  token  and  a  recognition  of  your  gallantry 
and  distinguished  services.  I  wish  you  all  a  safe  return  to 
your  homes,  and  that  you  may  long  live  to  enjoy  in  peace 
the  victories  which  have  been  won  by  you  and  your  com 
panions  in  arms.  Lieutenant,  I  return  to  you  and  your 
command  the  thanks  of  the  Department  and  of  the  Govern 
ment,  and  you  will  make  known  to  them  the  high  estima 
tion  in  which  their  services  are  held." 

Turning  about,  the  Secretary,  in  an  imperious  manner, 
thus  addressed  the  Adjutant-general  of  the  Army,  who  was 
present,  accompanied  by  the  military  chiefs  of  bureaux  and 
officers  temporarily  in  the  city : 

"  General  Townsend,  to  your  keeping  I  commend  these 
sacred  tokens  of  the  courage,  self-sacrifice  and  patriotism  of 
our  armies.  You  will  cause  a  proper  record  to  be  made  of 
the  particulars  of  each  capture,  and  present  to  each  cap 
tor,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States,  a  Medal  of  Honor  suit 
ably  inscribed. 

"  You  will  publish  in  General  Orders  the  names  of  these 
gallant  soldiers,  furnishing  each  with  a  copy  of  the  order,  to 
the  end  that  their  noble  example  may  incite  others  to  sim 
ilar  deeds. 

"  You  will  direct  the  Paymaster-general  to  pay  to  each 
officer  and  soldier  a  month's  pay  in  advance. 


CAPTURING  A  MAJOR-GENERAL.  Io- 

"  And,  finally,  you  will  grant  to  each  a  furlough  of  thirty 
days,  with  free  transportation  to  his  home  and  thence  to  his 
regiment." 

As  the  detachment  filed  out  of  the  apartment  each  man 
saluted  the  War  Minister.  Mr.  Stanton  seemed  for  the  mo 
ment  to  forget  the  grimness  of  official  duty  in  the  emotions 
that  swayed  the  warm-hearted  man.  He  waved  his  hand  in 
acknowledgment,  his  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  as  the  last 
"  boy  in  blue"  disappeared  the  Secretary  turned,  without  a 
word  to  his  guests,  and  darted  into  his  private  room. 


PRIVATE  JAMES   DUNLAVY, 

THIRD    IOWA   VOL.    CAVALRY. 


II.    CAPTURING   A    MAJOR-GENERAL. 

In  presenting  the  trophies  of  the  battle  of  Nashville  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  Lieutenant  Gere  spoke  of  the  long 
chase  of  Price  and  Marmaduke  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas  by 
the  very  troops  that  returned  to  Tennessee  in  time  to  gain  a 
victory  over  the  famous  leader,  Hood,  at  Nashville. 


I08  THE   VICTORS  AND   THE  SPOILS. 

The  capture  of  the  Confederate  general,  Marmaduke,  was 
made  by  a  young  Iowa  cavalryman,  Private  JAMES  DlJN- 
LAVY,*  under  circumstances  which  he  relates  in  a  letter 
from  which  an  extract  is  here  given. 

The  Union  forces  consisted  of  two  brigades  of  cavalry, 
commanded  by  Colonels  Benteen  and  Phillips.  General 
Sterling  Price's  forces  were  falling  back,  with  the  Yankees 
close  upon  their  heels.  Dunlavy  says : 

"  General  Marmaduke  had  formed  his  division  on  the 
prairie  to  hold  us  while  Price's  train  crossed  Mine  Creek. 
His  position  was  bad,  with  Mine  Creek  to  his  rear,  Benteen 
on  his  right  and  Phillips  on  his  left.  Col.  Benteen's  charges 
were  made  promptly,  and,  according  to  Gen.  Cabell  (Con 
federate),  'just  in  the  nick  of  time.'  A  moment  later 
Cabell  intended  to  charge  upon  Phillips.  He  had  just 
passed  the  word  for  it  when  Benteen  struck  their  right, 
capturing  their  artillery.  Marmaduke's  whole  right  and 
centre  were  completely  stampeded.  I  was  on  the  extreme 
right  of  my  regiment,  and  was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  a 
piece  of  shell,  which  also  hurt  my  horse.  Just  as  Marma 
duke's  men  '  broke,'  my  horse  wheeled  to  the  rear  and  my 
gun  fell  from  my  hand,  but  held  by  the  sling.  Just  as  quick 
as  I  could  get  my  horse  to  the  front,  seeing  my  brigade  far 
in  advance  to  my  right,  I  noticed  troops.  Thinking  they 
were  Federals  I  started  for  them,  but  soon  found  they  were 
Marmaduke's  men  in  full  retreat.  I  noticed  an  officer  in  a 
Confederate  uniform.  This  officer  started  in  my  direction, 


*  JAMES  DUNLAVY  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  soth  Iowa  Vol.  Infantry  (aged  18) ;  re-enlisted  Co. 
D,  3d  Iowa  Cavalry,  1863.  Served  during  all  campaigns  in  Tennessee,  Missouri  and 
Georgia  until  close  of  the  war.  Mustered  out  with  regiment  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  April  9,  1865. 
Was  graduated  M.D.  at  Keokuk  in  1870. 


A  MUTUAL  SUXPKISX.  {o~ 

shouting,  '  What  do  you  mean,  shooting  your  own  men  !  ' 
He  was  evidently  trying  to  rally  what  he  thought  were  his 
own  men.  I  shot  at  him,  but  missed.  I  checked  to  a  trot 
and  he  was  soon  by  my  side,  and  seemed  surprised  when  I 
demanded  his  revolver.  He  handed  it  over,  saying,  '  I  sur 
render;  thought  I  was  with  my  own  men.'  I  started  to  the 
rear,  and  as  one  of  our  men  asked  for  the  rebel  horse,  I 
ordered  my  prisoner  to  dismount,  which  he  did  in  a  very 
cool  and  military  style. 

11  I  then  started  to  the  rear  with  him  on  double-quick. 
Had  gone  a  short  distance  when  he  said  that  he  had  been 
up  all  night,  and  was  very  tired,  and  asked  me  if  I  would  let 
him  walk  ;  which  I  did.  He  wanted  a  horse,  but  I  refused 
to  get  him  one.  He  then  asked  me  to  take  him  to  General 
Pleasanton,  as  he  was  personally  acquainted  with  him. 

"  I  told  him  that  if  the  General  could  be  found  he  should 
see  him.  He  then  remarked,  *  I  will  tell  you  who  I  am.' 
Just  then  one  of  Pleasanton's  staff  came  up,  and  my  pris 
oner  introduced  himself  as  General  Marmaduke.  I  again 
started  to  the  rear  with  the  officer.  He  asked  me  in  what 
troops'  hands  he  was.  I  told  him  Iowa.  He  said  he  was 
glad  he  was  in  Iowa  instead  of  Kansas.  We  had  gone 
but  a  short  distance  when  we  met  Gen.  C.  W.  Blair,  to 
whom  1  delivered  my  captive.  Blair  got  a  horse  and 
mounted  General  Marmaduke,  and  asked  me  to  accom 
pany  them  to  General  Curtis. 

"  General  Blair  introduced  Marmaduke  to  Curtis,  then 
myself  as  General  Marmaduke's  captor.  General  Curtis 
remarked,  '  Right  from  my  own  State,'  and  that  he  was 
acquainted  with  my  father.  I  started  to  the  field  hospital 


IIO  THE   VICTORS  AND  THE  SPOILS. 

to  get  my  arm  dressed,  when  an  officer  rode  up  to  me,  shook 
my  hand  warmly,  and  said,  *  My  boy,  you  will  hear  of  this 
day's  work  in  years  to  come.' 

"  Started,  in  company  with  a  comrade,  for  the  front,  but 
had  not  gone  far  when  my  arm  began  to  bleed  and  become 
so  painful  that  I  gave  it  up  and  returned  to  Fort  Scott. 

"  That  night  it  rained  ;  my  feelings  can  better  be  imag 
ined  than  described.  A  boy  away  from  home  the  first  time  ; 
a  stranger  in  a  strange  place  ;  wet,  wounded,  dirty,  hungry 
and  homesick.  But  General  Blair  sent  for  me  and  treated 
me  with  great  kindness.  A  load  was  thus  removed  from 
my  heart  for  which,  I  shall  ever  be  grateful. 

"  As  soon  as  my  arm  was  well  enough  for  duty,  I  left 
Fort  Scott,  carrying  with  me  a  vivid  recollection  of  the 
kindness  of  the  citizens,  and  as  tokens  of 'their  friendship, 
from  the  ladies  an  elegant  album  and  a  beautiful  copy  of 
Tom  Moore's  poetical  works,  and  from  the  men  a  brace 
of  very  handsome  *  Colt's  navy  revolvers.'  ' 

A  rather  unique  testimonial  to  military  merit  in  the 
form  of  a  Resolution  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Davis 
County,  Iowa,  is  in  Dr.  Dunlavy's  possession.  It  reads  as 

follows : 

BLOOMFIELD,  IOWA, 

Jan.  12,  1865. 

WHEREAS  it  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  citizens  of  this  county 
that  Private  JAMES  DUNLAVY,  Co.  D,  3d  Iowa  Cavalry,  did  in  the  late  battle 
of  Mine  Creek,  Kansas,  between  the  Federal  and  Rebel  forces,  after  being  se 
verely  wounded  in  the  arm,  by  his  own  personal  daring  and  courage  rush  upon 
and  compel  the  noted  general,  Marmaduke  (rebel),  to  surrender  to  him  as  a 
prisoner  of  war,  Therefore  be  it 

Kesolved,  that  we  hereby  tender  the  said  JAMES  DUNLAVY  the  thanks  of  the 


A   UNIQUE   TESTIMONIAL. 


I  I  1 


citizens  of  this  county  for  his  brave,  faithful  and  distinguished  services.     He  it 
further 

Resolved,  that  the  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  be  directed  to  spread 
this  proceeding  upon  the  record  of  this  Board,  and  that  he  furnish  the  said 
JAMES  DUNLAVY  with  a  copy  of  same  under  seal. 

I,  William  Law,  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Davis  County,  Iowa, 
certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  correct  copy  of  proceedings,  had  by  said  Board  at 
its  January  term,  1865. 

Witness  my  hand  a'nd  Official  Seal  this  I2th  day  of  January,  A.D.  1865. 
L.  S.  WM.  J.  LAW, 

Clerk. 


IMRC1II.B 


shall  (Come.  (5w  rtinj  : 

x^M^  .  VuVu  AuttvVu 


___ 
J/ufviuta^  ^V\\\a\i  ____  Ofatnleet  _________ 

,  A  «^wi«/%-  '  \\W\^V^.^^    ..  ___ 


.  ..  ___ 


L^ULCCiiUjiA^,  tl  \  U-^tC\  I  V\  \  \/Ub\  U\JL\  lCU\iij'UL\u]L>_— , 


112 


CORPORAL    PATRICK    H.    MONAGHAN, 

FORTY-EIGHTH    PENNSYLVANIA    INFANTRY. 


THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

IN  every  army  there  may  be  found  enlisted  men  who  are 
not  only  able  to  obey  orders  intelligently  under  the  eye 
of  their  commanding  officer,  but  who  can  act  with  energy, 
courage  and  good  judgment  when  thrown  upon  their  own 
resources  in  an  emergency. 

The  armies  of  the  United  States  have  abounded  with 
such  men — especially  in  time  of  war. 

The  "  three  thinking  bayonets,"  whose  adventures  are 
described  in  this  chapter,  belong  to  the  high  type  of  Amer 
ican  soldiership  referred  to,  and  their  gallantry  was  re 
warded  with  the  Medal. 

I.  RECAPTURING  THE  COLORS. 

PATRICK  H.  MONAGHAN,*  formerly  a  corporal,  Co.  F, 
48th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  writes  as  follows : 

*  PATRICK  H.  MONAGHAN  enlisted  (at  the  age  of  eighteen)  at  Minersville,  Pa.,  Aug.  12, 
1861,  in  Co.  F,  48th  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry.  Promoted  Corporal 18.  At 
tached  to  Battery  "M,"  3d  U.  S.  Artillery,  Sept.  to  Dec.,  1863.  Served  with  Army  of 
Potomac  and  in  East  Tennessee  Campaign,  until  mustered  out  with  regiment,  July  17, 
1865.  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  "  for  recapture  of  colors  yth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  June  17,  1864." 

8  113 


H4  THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

"  My  recollection  of  the  affair  of  June  17,  1864,  and  the 
recapture  of  the  colors  of  the  /th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  is 
as  follows : 

"  After  crossing  the  James  River  on  the  I5th  of  June,  we 
marched  rapidly  towards  Petersburg,  and  on  the  evening  of 
the  i6th  debouched  from  a  dense  strip  of  woods,  deployed, 
and  double-quicked  across  a  field  toward  the  enemy's 
works.  On  our  approach,  a  brigade  of  the  Second  Corps, 
which  occupied  a  hastily  constructed  breastwork  in  front, 
advanced  to  carry  the  enemy's  works.  But  after  a  des 
perate  attempt  to  storm  them,  they  were  repulsed  with 
severe  loss,  especially  in  prisoners.  It  was  then  that  the 
New  York  regiment  lost  its  colors.  This  was  late  on  the 
evening  of  the  i6th.  During  the  night  wre  manoeuvred, 
crossing  a  marsh  that  intervened  in  single  file,  and  took 
position  closer  to  the  rebel  works.  While  in  this  position 
the  most  profound  silence  was  maintained,  as  we  could 
hear  the  enemy  talking,  and  every  man  was  notified  to 
secure  his  tin  cup  and  trappings  so  as  to  make  no  noise  and 
be  ready  for  a  charge.  Before  daylight  the  order  came,  and 
we,  with  the  36th  Massachusetts,  dashed  forward,  under  a 
heavy  fire,  leaped  the  enemy's  breastworks,  capturing  four 
pieces  of  artillery,  six  hundred  prisoners,  and  about  a  thou 
sand  stand  of  arms. 

"  In  leaping  the  breastworks,  a  rebel  fired,  with  his  gun 
so  close  to  the  left  side  of  my  head  that  my  hair  was 
singed,  my  cheek  slightly  burned,  and  ear  injured  by  the 
concussion  so  that  I  feel  the  effects  of  it  yet.  Thomas 
James,  a  comrade  of  mine,  knocked  a  rebel  down  with  his 
gun,  and  Isaac  Lewis  (another  comrade)  and  a  rebel  fired 


HA  ND-  TO-HA  ND.  l  }  $ 

at  each  other,  killing  each  other  instantly.  It  was  short, 
sharp  work  and  we  lost  seventy-five  men.  The  enemy 
fell  back  in  confusion  toward  their  second  line,  while  our 
troops  occupied  the  one  just  taken.  A  few  of  us — a  strong 
skirmish  line  as  it  were — without  orders,  pursued  them. 
Between  the  line  just  taken  and  the  next,  the  ground  was 
undulating,  and  a  small  stream  of  water  flowed  in  a  hollow 
thus  formed.  A  growth  of  small  trees  and  underbrush 
lined  either  bank  of  this  stream.  A  part  of  the  enemy 
made  a  stand  here  and  delivered  fire.  As  we  dashed  for 
ward,  firing  as  we  went,  a  young  man,  whom  I  took  for 
an  officer,  came  towards  us,  with  a  handkerchief  fastened 
to  a  rod,  reached  it  to  me  and  said  he  wished  to  surrender. 
I  asked  him  to  what  regiment  he  belonged,  and  he  replied, 
*  The  litter  corps  '  (corresponding,  I  think,  to  our  stretcher  or 
ambulance  corps).  I  directed  him  to  the  rear — the  line  just 
captured  and  held  by  our  troops — and  ran  to  the  edge  of 
the  woods  and  fired.  A  man  fell  across  the  small  stream 
with  his  head  almost  in  the  water,  and  immediately  a 
tall  rebel,  who  was  near,  threw  down  his  gun,  ran  forward, 
caught  him,  sat  on  the  bank  with  his  feet  in  the  water,  and 
placed  the  head  of  the  wounded  man  in  his  lap.  I  came 
forward,  aimed  my  empty  gun,  and  ordered  both  to  sur 
render  and  go  to  the  rear.  The  tall  man  cried  out,  '  Don't 
shoot  the  Major!'  I  inquired,  'Major  who?'  and  I 
understood  him  to  say,  '  Major  Crawford  of  the  34th  Ten 
nessee.'*  I  asked  the  Major  to  arise,  and  we  both  would 
help  him  back.  But  he  said,  '  No,  I  can't  walk,  I  have  just 

*  I  think  he  said  "  34th  Tennessee,"  although  it  might  have  been  "  44th  Tennessee," 
as  Robert  Reed,  of  Co.  "  G,"  captured  the  colors  of  that  regiment  the  same  morning. 


H5  THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

been  wounded.  I  think  my  hip  is  broken.'  He  seemed 
to  be  a  man,  forty  or  forty-five  years  of  age,  with  a  florid 
complexion,  and  a  reddish  beard,  clipped  short. 

"  I  then  ordered  the  tall  man  to  go  to  the  rear,  but  when 
he  attempted  to  rise  the  Major  moaned  and  said,  *  Please 
leave  him  with  me,  and  you  go  and  get  some  of  your  men 
to  carry  me  back/  I  replied,  '  And  he  will  be  gone  when  I 
return.'  He  answered,  '  I  give  you  my  word  of  honor  that 
we  both  will  remain  until  you  come.'  The  other  man  said, 
*  I  saw  a  stretcher  (litter)  in  there.  If  we  could  get  it  you 
and  I  might  be  able  to  carry  him.'  Of  course  all  this  took 
place  in  less  time  than  it  takes  me  to  tell  it.  I  stepped  a 
few  paces  to  the  left  in  search  of  the  stretcher,  when  a 
rebel,  with  a  gun  at  a  trail  and  a  flag  over  his  shoulder, 
came  running  toward  me.  When  he  saw  me  he  attempted 
to  use  his  piece,  but  I  had  him  covered,  and  shouted  to 
him  to  drop  his  gun  and  surrender.  He  dropped  it,  and  I 
ran  forward  and  took  the  colors  from  him. 

"  I  was  so  elated  over  getting  those  colors  that  I  merely 
called  to  the  prisoners  to  follow  me,  and  not  knowing 
whether  they  did  or  not,  ran  excitedly  back  to  the  line 
which  was  still  firing  over  us,  who  were  in  the  hollow,  at 
the  retreating  rebels  beyond  the  thicket.  I  fortunately 
approached  my  own  company,  who  upon  seeing  me  ceased 
firing,  set  up  a  cheer,  while  I  leaped  upon  the  breastworks 
and  waved  the  flag.  Lieut.  John  L.  Williams,  of  our  com 
pany,  jumped  up,  embraced  me,  and  the  boys  pulled  us 
both  down,  as  the  enemy  had  opened  a  pretty  lively  fire 
from  their  second  line  by  this  time.  We  unfurled  the  flag 
and  found  it  belonged  to  the  7th  New  York  Heavy  Artil- 


A   GOOD  DAY'S  FISHING.  j  ,  - 

lery.  The  prisoners,  except  the  few  we  had  taken  in  the 
pursuit,  had  been  sent  to  the  rear  by  this  time.  The 
young  man  who  first  surrendered  to  me  was  still  there,  but 
was  about  being  sent  back  under  guard.  When  he  saw  me 
he  said  to  the  captain,  '  I  am  his  prisoner,  I  surrendered  to 
him.' 

"  I  told  the  captain  about  the  wounded  major  and  the 
other  two  men.  He  ordered  me  to  the  rear  with  the  pris 
oner  and  the  colors,  and  said  he  would  attend  to  them. 
On  my  return  I  understood  they  were  brought  in.  In  the 
centre  and  on  the  left  was  an  equally  interesting  time. 
As  I  started  back  I  met  Lieut.-Col.  Pleasants,  who  com 
manded  the  regiment.  He  congratulated  me,  and  re 
quested  me  to  give  him  the  colors,  bring  the  prisoner  to 
the  rear,  and  report  to  him  on  my  return.  After  some  hes 
itation  I  gave  him  the  flag.  I  soon  overtook  the  other 
prisoners,  escorted  by  as  numerous  a  guard,  from  various 
regiments,  as  they  numbered.  I  turned  over  mine  and 
returned  to  the  front.  In  the  mean  time,  the  regiment  had 
moved  forward  and  were  throwing  up  breastworks.  It  was 
from  near  this  position,  a  week  later,  that  we  commenced 
the  mine  that  we  exploded  on  the  3Oth  of  July. 

"  General  Meade  presented  three  others  and  me  with 
Medals  of  Honor,  December  i6th,  1864,  at  Ninth  Corps 
Headquarters  in  presence  of  a  large  part  of  the  Army." 

II.  A  GOOD  DAY'S  FISHING. 

One  of  the  operations  resulting  in  the  capture  of  Rich 
mond  was  the  affair  of  Hatcher's  Run,  October  27,  1864. 
Its  object  was  to  gain  possession  of  the  Southside  Railroad, 


U8  THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

then  an  important  line  of  supply  for  the  Confederate  army. 
Although  the  attack  was  unsuccessful,  there  was  some  hard 
fighting  and  many  curious  happenings  yet  to  be  told  in 
print.  One  of  these  incidents  is  described  by  ALONZO 
SMITH,  then  1st  Sergeant  (since  lieutenant)  7th  Michigan 
Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry.*  He  says  : 

"  I  will  give  a  sketch  of  what  is  known  as  the  battle  of 
Hatcher's  Run,  Va.,  Oct.  27,  1864,  so  far  as  my  memory 
serves  me.  The  2d  Division,  2d  Corps,  formed  line  of  battle 
across  the  Boydton  plank-road  on  quite  a  high  ridge,  facing 
towards  the  south  and  west.  My  regiment  was  a  part  of 
the  left  flanking  brigade,  with  its  right  resting  at  or  near 
said  plank-road,  extending  the  line  to  the  left  in  front  of 
the  woods  that  were  in  our  rear ;  and  on  the  left  of  the  road, 
as  we  faced  the  south  and  west,  our  line  formed  a  half  cir 
cle  with  centre  in  the  advance,  my  regiment  extending 
into  the  woods  towards  the  plank-road.  The  brigade  was 
composed  of  iQth  and  2Oth  Massachusetts,  42d  and  59th 
New  York,  1st  Minnesota,  36th  Wisconsin  and  7th  Michi 
gan.  The  Confederates  attacked  our  right  and  rear,  cap 
turing  the  artillery  in  position  on  our  right.  While  in  this 
position  some  stragglers  came  through  the  woods  in  rear  of 
my  regiment.  Our  colonel  then  deployed  us  to  the  left, 
towards  the  plank-road,  to  prevent  any  stragglers  from 
passing  our  left,  we  being  the  left  flanking  regiment  of  in 
fantry  within  sight  or  hearing ;  although  we  understood  at 


*  ALONZO  SMITH  enlisted  (on  his  nineteenth  birth-day)  Aug.  9,  1861,  in  the  yth  Mich. 
Vol.  Infantry.  Promoted  corporal,  Apr.,  1863  ;  sergeant,  Apr.,  1864;  first  sergeant  Nov., 
1864  ;  first  lieutenant,  Dec.  9,  1864.  Served  through  campaigns,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Wounded -A*.  Antietam,  in  left  thigh  ;  at  Gettysburg,  in  left  wrist.  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  for 
capture  of  flag  26th  N.  C.  Inf.,  Oct.  27,  1864. 


A   WHOLESALE  SURRENDER.  l  {g 

the  time  that  Gregg's  Division  of  cavalry  were  the  only 
troops  on  our  left.  Looking  in  our  rear  I  saw  quite  a  num 
ber  of  men  moving  towards  our  line.  Calling  to  Sergeant 
Thomas  Smith,  who  happened  to  be  near  me,  I  asked  him 
if  he  did  not  think  they  were  '  Rebs.'  After  a  thorough 
look  in  that  direction  he  pronounced  them  to  be  '  Yanks,' 
and  started  to  report  to  Colonel  Lapoint,  who  then  had 
charge  of  the  picket-line  a  little  in  our  advance.  Feeling 
somewhat  uneasy  as  to  our  position,  I  went  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  rods  to  the  rear  and  discovered  the  men  to  be  Con 
federates,  coming  directly  toward  me — every  man  for  him 
self.  Stepping  behind  a  large  elm  tree,  I  concluded  to 
try  a  demand  for  surrender  as  soon  as  they  came  near 
enough. 

"  With  a  loaded  musket  and  fixed  bayonet  I  awaited  their 
approach.  When  within  a  rod  or  so,  I  stepped  out  from 
my  hiding-place  and  demanded  a  surrender,  which  they  did 
not  appear  to  heed.  I  made  the  second  demand  when 
their  line  officers  came  to  the  front,  and  I  saw  that  none  of 
them  had  side-arms.  They  said  they  would  surrender  to 
me  if  I  would  take  them  out  of  there  all  right.  They 
wished  to  know  if  we  had  any  troops  in  there,  and  in  what 
direction  I  was  going  to  take  them  out.  I  pointed  to  the 
direction  of  the  plank-road,  when  they  said  it  would  be 
taking  them  back  into  their  own  lines.  I  informed  them 
that  we  had  a  division  only  a  few  rods  from  me.  Their 
officers  then  told  the  men  to  throw  down  their  arms  and 
surrender.  I  then  called  to  Alfred  Bordine  and  John 
Cramer,  they  being  the  first  I  saw  after  the  surrender. 

"  The  good  news  soon  reached  the  regiment  and  a  guard 


I20  THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

formed  who  helped  the  discomfited  Confederates  to  remove 
their  cartridge-boxes,  and  I  kindly  became  the  color-bearer 
of  the  26th  North  Carolina.  Just  as  I  had  taken  the  colors 
from  the  sergeant,  Colonel  Lapoint  came  to  the  scene  and 
wished  to  know  what  I  had  been  doing.  He  then  told  me 
to  take  a  guard  and  report  to  General  Hancock,  whose 
headquarters  were  in  an  open  field  to  our  left,  and  across 
the  plank-road.  I  obeyed  the  order,  and  General  Hancock 
directed  me  to  report  the  prisoners  to  the  provost-marshal. 

"  The  same  night  the  army  fell  back  to  their  old  camp, 
and  through  some  mistake  of  the  aides  my  regiment  and 
the  SQth  N.  Y.  were  left  to  their  fate.  When  daylight 
came,  the  colonel  discovered  their  position  and  started  for 
the  rear,  but  had  not  crossed  the  first  field  when  a  squad  of 
rebel  cavalry  made  a  dash  on  them,  which  was  repulsed  by 
a  volley  from  the  boys  in  blue.  They  then  formed  a  skir 
mish  line  and  kept  under  shelter  of  the  woods.  The  color- 
bearer  of  the  State  flag  took  the  flag  from  the  staff  and  put 
it  around  his  body,  under  his  shirt  ;  the  U.  S.  flag  was  torn 
to  pieces,  each  man  putting  a  piece  in  his  pocket. 

"  After  wandering  through  the  woods,  avoiding  openings 
as  much  as  possible,  they  became  lost.  Going  to  a  log 
cabin  they  found  an  old  negro,  who  was  willing  to  pilot 
them  to  the  Union  lines,  where  they  arrived  after  two  days' 
tramping.  The  old  contraband  was  sent  to  Monroe,  Mich 
igan,  by  the  regiment,  as  a  reward  for  his  services. 

"  The  number  of  prisoners  for  which  my  regiment  re 
ceived  credit  at  the  engagement  on  Hatcher's  Run,  Va., 
was  20  officers  and  480  enlisted  men." 


AN  INDEPENDENT  BA TTER Y.  12} 

This  was  an  extraordinary  haul  for  one  lone  fisherman, 
but  shows  what  a  thoroughly  wide  awake  sergeant  may 
do. 


BVT.    CAPTAIN    PETER   T.    ANDERSON, 

LATE    CORPORAL    3IST    W1SC.    INFANTRY. 

III.  AN  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

In  the  year  1840,  when  Chicago  was  a  village,  among  the 
arrivals  there  were  two  Norwegians — husband  and  wire- 
on  their  way  to  a  new  home  in  free  America,  where  land 
was  cheap  and  where  industry  and  thrift  have  ever  been 
rewarded  with  success. 

They  settled  in  Wisconsin,  on  the  banks  of  the  East 
Pecatonica  River,  and  erected  a  homestead,  where  in  due 
time  numerous  olive  branches  grew  up  around  the  worthy 
couple,  and  became  the  seasoned  timber  of  which  true 
American  citizens  and,  when  needed,  good  Union  soldiers 
are  made.  When  the  great  war  came,  two  of  the  boys  volun 
teered  to  fight  under  the  old  flag.  One,  Gotack,  gave  his 
life  to  his  country  in  one  of  the  battles  near  Atlanta,  in 


122  THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

1864.  The  other,  PETER  T.  ANDERSON,*  enlisted  in  a  Wis 
consin  regiment  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  before  the  close 
of  the  war,  in  which  he  served  to  the  bitter  end,  had  given 
many  proofs   of  his  hardy  Norway  blood  and  his  healthy 
American    training.     His  is  one   of    the    few   instances    in 
which   a   private   soldier  has  been  honored  with  a  brevet 
commission  as  captain,  for  a  special  act  of  gallantry  in  the 
presence  of  the  enemy. 

Anderson  had  tramped  with  his  regiment  under  General 
Sherman  on  the  Great  March  to  the  Sea,  and  after  the 
capture  of  Savannah,  had  found  himself  still  under  the  lead 
ership  of  "  Uncle  Billy  " — as  Sherman  was  affectionately 
called  by  his  men — close  at  the  heels  of  the  distinguished 
Confederate,  Joe  Johnston. 

Occasionally  the  enemy  would  turn  and  snap  viciously  at 
his  pursuers. 

One  of  these    occasions  was   at   Bentonville,   March   19, 

1865.  It    is  thus   described    by  Captain    Anderson,  then 
Corporal  Co.  B,  3ist  Wisconsin  Infantry: 

"  The  morning  opened  fair  and  warm.  About  one  o'clock, 
and  just  after  dinner,  we  forded  a  stream.  While  we  were 
crossing  the  stream  our  major,  Robert  Stepherson,  asked 
me  to  fill  his  canteen  with  water  and  then  get  into  an  am 
bulance  and  ride,  as  he  thought  I  looked  too  sick  to  march. 
I  told  him  I  never  had  been  in  an  ambulance  and  would 
rather  stay  with  my  company.  We  were  ordered  down 


*  PETER  T.  ANDERSON  enlisted  Sept.  8,  1863,  in  Co.  B,  3131  Wisconsin  Infantry.  Pro 
moted  corporal  "  for  gallantry  at  Averysboro,  N.  C.,"  March  16,  1865.  Breveted  captain 
Wisconsin  Volunteers  (page  112).  Served  in  the  Western  Army  continuously  until 
mustered  out  with  regiment  at  Louisville,  July  8,  1865.  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  "  for  gallant 
conduct  in  saving  gun  of  i4th  Corps  from  capture,"  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  March  19,  1865. 


FALLING  BACK  IN  GOOD  ORDER.  ,2, 

close  to  the  left  of  the  turnpike  leading  to  Bcntonvillc  ; 
the  timber  grew  quite  large  and  thick  where  we  were 
formed  in  line  of  battle.  About  four  rods  in  front  of  our 
regiment  there  was  an  open  field  ;  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
across  it  we  could  see  the  Rebs  forming  their  lines.  In  the 
mean  time,  our  men  were  cutting  down  trees  and  piling 
them  up  for  temporary  breastworks.  There  were  only 
three  regiments  of  our  brigade  there.  We  had  only  a  few 
minutes  to  work,  as  the  Rebs  saw  (or  thought  they  saw)  a 
chance  of  gobbling  us  up — a  large  gap  between  us  and  the 
I4th  Corps.  They  fell  upon  both  our  flanks  about  the 
same  time  ;  our  right  flank  gave  way  first.  Our  regiment 
was  on  the  left  flank  and  my  Co.  (B)  on  the  extreme  left. 
When  we  saw  the  Rebs  were  clear  to  our  rear,  on  both  of 
our  flanks,  we  fell  back  in  great  disorder,  some  of  the  boys 
going  so  far  to  the  rear  that  they  never  got  back  until  noon 
the  next  day.  We  ran  towards  the  rear,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  pike,  and  behind  where  we  formed  our  first  line  the 
iQth  Indiana  Battery  was  stationed.  The  men  had  aban 
doned  three  of  their  guns.  After  most  all  of  our  brigade 
had  passed  them,  some  one  (think  it  was  one  of  the  battery 
boys)  shouted  :  '  For  God's  sake,  save  the  battery  ! ' 

"  I  said  to  one  of  our  men  (George  Neamiah)  that  I  was 
going  back  to  get  the  battery  ;  he  said  I  was  a  d— d  fool  if 
I  did  ;  but  back  I  went.  The  gun  nearest  the  road  was 
*  limbered  up  '  and  ready  to  move.  The  team  consisted  of 
a  pair  of  mules  on  the  lead,  while  the  '  swing  '  and  wheel 
ers  were  horses.  I  soon  got  them  started  by  using  my 
ramrod  for  a  whip.  I  only  had  about  four  rods  to  go  to 
reach  the  pike.  Just  as  I  got  to  the  pike,  the  rebels  began 


I24  THREE  THINKING  BAYONETS. 

to  flock  around  me  pretty  thick.  All  the  time  I  kept  giv 
ing  it  to  the  horses  with  my  ramrod.  Once  I  undertook  to 
get  into  the  saddle  of  the  wheel  team  ;  just  as  I  was  going 
to  mount  a  bullet  struck  the  strap  of  the  stirrup  and  cut  it 
in  two.  The  enemy  began  to  think  they  were  likely  to  lose 
their  prize,  and  all  began  to  shoot  at  me  (or  at  the  horses, 
as  they  were  badly  wounded),  and  some  of  them  used 
pretty  rough  language,  telling  me  to  surrender.  There  was 
one  Johnnie  rode  right  up  to  me,  with  a  Colt's  revolver 
drawn  and  pointed  at  me,  and  shouted,  *  Surrender !  you 
d — d  Yankee/  He  had  hardly  uttered  the  words  before 
one  of  our  boys  shot  him  from  his  horse. 

"  The  Rebs  followed  me  up  close  till  they  saw  our  brigade 
forming.  Colonel  West,  taking  command,  said,  '  We  will 
hold  this  position  or  die  right  here.'  My  ramrod  was  bent 
double  from  trying  to  load  my  gun  as  I  was  running.  So 
when  I  got  to  the  regiment  the  colonel  told  me  to  go  to 
the  rear,  as  I  could  do  no  good  there  with  a  broken  ramrod 
and  my  hand  badly  bruised.  I  took  the  gun  and  horses  to 
the  rear  with  me.  As  I  approached  the  batteries  that  were 
massed  in  our  rear,  an  officer  (I  think  it  was  the  chief  of 
artillery)  stepped  in  front  of  the  works  they  had  thrown  up 
and  asked  me  what  battery  I  belonged  to.  I  told  him  I 
was  '  Independent.'  I  told  him  in  a  few  words  all  I  knew 
about  it.  Then  he  asked  me  if  I  would  let  him  use  the 
gun,  and  of  course  I  consented.  Then  I  went  to  the  rear 
of  the  battery  and  sat  down  under  a  tree.  I  sat  there 
about  ten  minutes  when  an  orderly  came  along  with  a  ram 
rod  in  his  hand.  I  asked  him  to  give  it  to  me  as  mine  was 
broken.  He  gave  it  to  me.  I  started  right  away  for  my 


RE CONNOITRING.  l  2  ^ 

company,  and  got  there  just  as  the  rebels  were  making 
their  second  charge.  They  charged  us  five  times,  but  we 
checked  them  every  time. 

"  Just  after  dusk  that  evening  the  Major  asked  me  to  pick 
a  few  men  to  go  with  me  to  reconnoitre  in  our  front,  and 
see  where  the  enemy  were.  Our  regiment  was  instructed 
not  to  fire  until  we  got  in,  even  if  we  did  shoot  a  little  in 
front  of  them.  We  started,  and  kept  in  the  dark  as  much 
as  possible  ;  several  of  the  pitch-pine  trees  were  burning, 
and  made  it  quite  light  in  some  places.  After  advancing 
about  two  hundred  yards  several  rebels  jumped  up  and 
shouted,  *  We  surrender  ! '  There  were  ten  or  twelve  of 
them  and  only  five  of  us.  We  took  them  into  our  lines, 
which  was  just  what  they  wanted.  The  next  day  we  buried 
the  dead  of  both  armies,  and  on  the  twenty-first  started  for 
Raleigh,  N.  C.,  where  we  lay  until  the  surrender  of  John 
ston's  army." 


LIEUTENANT   JOSIAH   M.    CURTIS, 

TWELFTH    WEST   VA.    INFANTRY. 


HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

THE  Sword  has  been  often,  in  figure  of  speech,  "  turned 
into  a  ploughshare,"  but  has  seldom  been  likened  unto 
a  sickle,  with  which  in  olden  time  the  harvest  was  gathered. 
And  yet,  in  the  last  month  of  the  Civil  War  in  America, 
Farmer  Grant  made  just  that  use  of  the  sabres  of  his  caval 
rymen,  while  with  the  bayonets  of  his  infantry  the  over 
ripe  crops  of  rebel  resistance — the  weary  soldiers,  the  droop 
ing  battle-flags,  the  flying  artillery,  the  stampeded  wagon 
trains — were  tossed  into  Uncle  Sam's  barns. 

Many  of  the  reapers  were  rewarded  with  the  Medal. 
Let  us  glance  at  the  record  in  three  cases. 

I.     THE   BEGINNING   OF   THE   END. 

The  month  of  April,  1865,  was  a  black  one  in  the  Confed 
erate  calendar.  Ere  its  second  day  was  spent  two  heavy 
blows  had  been  struck  at  General  Lee's  army,  and  while 
the  enemy  was  reeling  under  the  shock,  General  Grant 

126 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  END.  I2y 

ordered  others  to  be  delivered  in  quick  succession.  The 
outer  intrenchments  of  Petersburg  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  victorious  Yankees,  and  of  the  inner  line  of 
works  there  only  remained  two  small  but  strong  forts,  called 
Gregg  and  Whitworth.  General  Grant  says  :  "  We  thought 
it  had  now  become  necessary  to  carry  them  by  assault. 
About  one  o'clock  in  the  day  Fort  Gregg  was  assaulted  by 
Foster's  Division  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps  (Gibbon's), 
supported  by  two  brigades  from  Ord's  command.  The  bat 
tle  was  desperate,  and  the  national  troops  were  repulsed 
several  times ;  but  it  was  finally  carried,  and  immediately 
the  troops  in  Fort  Whitworth  evacuated  the  place.  The 
guns  of  Fort  Gregg  were  turned  upon  the  retreating 
enemy." 

Of  the  assaulting  force,  one  young  officer*  greatly  dis 
tinguished  himself.  His  father  (Brevet  Brigadier-General 
W.  B.  Curtis,  late  Colonel  I2th  W.  V.  Infantry)  furnishes 
the  following  account: 

"  I  was  commanding  the  2d  Brigade,  Independent  Divis 
ion,  which  consisted  of  the  I2th  West  Va.,  54th  Pa.,  and 
23d  111.  (Gen.  Mulligan's  Irish  Regiment).  Lieutenant  Cur 
tis  was  then  acting  as  aide  on  my  staff.  The  assault  was 
first  made  on  the  Confederates  by  the  6th  Corps,  and  their 
line  was  broken.  The  fighting  during  the  night  was  terrific, 
the  artillery  and  infantry  both  being  engaged.  When  day 
dawned  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  April,  we  discovered 


*  Lieut.  JOSIAH  M.  CCRTIS  enlisted  as  a  private,  D,  i2th  West  Virginia  Infantry,  Aug. 
25,  1862,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  Promoted  through  successive  grades  to  ad  lieut. 
Dec.  16, 1864.  Served  under  Milroyand  Hunter,  1863,  and  under  Sheridan  in  campaign  of 
1864  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia;  honorably  mustered  out  of  service  in  1865;  awarded  Medal 
of  Honor  for  gallant  conduct  in  battle,  April  2,  1865. 


I2g  HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

that  the  enemy  were  evacuating  their  works.  We  were 
ordered  to  attack  a  large  fort,  which  we  took  without  any 
material  loss,  as  the  enemy  had  mostly  withdrawn.  Our 
division  was  ordered  to  move  along  the  Confederate  works 
towards  Petersburg.  We  captured  many  prisoners  on  our 
route,  meeting  with  no  opposition  until  we  came  to  forts 
Gregg  and  Whitworth,  south  of  Petersburg.  Fort  Gregg 
was  surrounded  by  a  ditch,  flooded  with  water,  about  eight 
feet  wide  and  four  or  five  feet  deep,  and  manned  by  the 
48th  Mississippi  Infantry  (a  part  of  Mahone's  Brigade). 
Gen.  Foster,  who  was  commanding  the  first  division  of  our 
corps,  had  made  two  or  three  assaults  on  the  fort,  being 
repulsed  each  time  with  heavy  loss.  Our  division  com 
mander,  when  we  came  up,  ordered  me  to  charge.  After  a 
desperate  struggle  we  succeeded  in  crossing  the  ditch,— 
pulling  each  other  up  the  bank — and  planting  our  colors  on 
top  of  the  parapet,  captured  the  fort.  In  this  assault 
Major  Davis  of  the  54th  P.  V.,  and  three  color-bearers  of 
the  1 2th  W.  V.,  were  killed  before  we  succeeded  in  planting 
the  colors  upon  the  parapet. 

"  My  son,  Lieut..  J.  M.  Curtis,  after  the  third  man  had 
been  killed,  grabbed  the  colors  in  his  left  hand,  and  cheering 
the  men  on  in  the  charge,  a  rush  was  made  into  the  fort,  and 
after  a  short  struggle  the  enemy  surrendered.  The  Medal 
of  Honor  was  given  to  him  for  gallant  conduct  in  this  as 
sault. 

"  This  was  the  last  place  the  enemy  attempted  to  hold  in 
front  of  Richmond  ;  they  commenced  to  evacuate  the  city 
that  day.  My  regiment  was  presented  by  our  corps  com 
mander  with  a  golden  eagle  to  surmount  our  State  colors, 


AT  THE  "  LAST  DITCH."  I2Q 

inscribed  as  follows:  *  Presented  to  the  I2th  West  Va.  Vol. 
Infantry  by  their  corps  commander,  Gen.  John  Gibbon,  for 
gallant  conduct  in  the  assault  upon  Fort  Gregg,  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1865.'  The  loss  of  our 
corps  in  this  assault  was  715  killed  and  wounded.  Lieu 
tenant  Curtis,  with  his  regiment  and  brigade,  also  partici 
pated  in  the  pursuit  of  Lee,  until  he  surrendered  at  Appo- 
mattox  Court  House,  marching  thirty-five  miles  on  the  8th 
of  April  to  get  to  the  support  of  Sheridan. 

"  Lieutenant  Curtis  was  one  of  the  officers  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  the  Confederate  colors,  which  were  surren 
dered  and  sent  to  Washington.  Gen.  Gibbon,  our  corps 
commander,  who  had  seen  service  all  through  the  war,  and 
participated  in  some  of  the  hardest-fought  battles  that  oc 
curred,  says  in  his  report  that  this  was  one  of  the  most 
desperate  assaults  made  during  the  war."  * 

In  a  conversation  that  took  place  the  night  after  the  as 
sault  between  some  of  Mulligan's  Irish  Regiment,  one  was 
overheard  to  say : 

"  Moike,  did  yez  moind  young  Cortis,  standin'  on  the 
parrypet  av  the  foort,  wid  the  colors  in  "Wan  fisht  an  his 
soord  in  the  other?  Be  me  faith,  he  luk'd  loike  he  wuz 
afther  takin'  a  lape  entoo  Gayhanna  !  " 

II.    A  FOOT  SOLDIER  AT  "THE  LAST  DITCH." t 
"  Since  the  day  that  Sheridan's  cavalry,  the  Fifth  Corps, 

"  The  whole  capture  since  the  army  started  out  gunning  will  amount  to  not  less  than 
12,000  men,  and  probably  fifty  pieces  of  artillery." — Grant's  Memoirs. 

t  Lieut.  RUDOLPH  R.  RIDDELL  (late  6ist  N.  Y.  Vols.).  He  enlisted  in  1861,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  as  a  drummer,  and  was  promoted  through  intermediate  grades  to  rank  of  Lieu 
tenant,  commanding  a  company.  Honorably  discharged  1865.  Awarded  Medal  of  Honor 
for  capture  of  flag  at  Sailor's  Creek,  April  6,  1865.  (This  account  of  the  battle  is  by 
Mr.  Riddell.) 

9 


HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

and  Miles  Division  of  the  Second  (to  which  we  belonged) 
had  struck  Lee's  extreme  right,  rolling  him  back  and  doub 
ling  him  up,  we  had  been  straining  every  power  to  '  finish 
the  job,'  as  Sheridan  had  expressed  it  to  Grant,  To  this 
end  the  pursuit  was  vigorous.  The  now  desperate  enemy, 
finding  himself  too  closely  pressed,  would  frequently  and 


LIEUTENANT    R.    R.    RIDDELL, 

SIXTY-FIRST   N.    Y.    VOLUNTEERS. 


with  great  suddenness  turn  upon  us.  This  made  the  many 
engagements  which  took  place  along  the  line  of  retreat  and 
pursuit  generally  unexpected,  and  always  sharp  and  deadly. 
'  Keep  'em  on  a  jump,'  was  Sheridan's  characteristic  order, 
and  inspired  with  victory  the  order  was  carried  out  with 
terrible  energy.  Thus  the  two  armies  swept  their  stormy 
course  from  Petersburg  to  Appomattox. 

"  Near  the  close  of  that  race  for  life  the  enemy's  converg 
ing  columns  reached  a  point  on  Sailor's  Creek,  and  taking 
up  a  position  of  great  natural  strength  upoa  the  further 
bluffs  that  border  the  creek,  faced  their  pursuers,  for  what 


SAILOR 'S  CREEK.  l     { 

proved  to  be  the  last  and  greatest  struggle  of  the  retreat.. 
It  was  the  veritable  '  last  ditch  '  into  which,  for  four  years, 
we  had  been  trying  to  get  them. 

"  I  remember  we  had  pressed  on  one  day,  with  frequent 
heavy  skirmishes,  until  late  at  night,  nearly  exhausted,  we 
threw  ourselves  upon  the  ground  to  get  what  rest  a  soldier 
may  under  such  circumstances.  The  morning  (the  6th  of 
April,  I  believe)  broke  dark  and  lowery,  and  the  weather 
continued  heavy,  with  frequent  showers  throughout  the 
day.  At  an  early  hour  we  were  under  arms,  but  instead  of 
taking  up  the  pursuit  and  moving  out  with  promptness, 
there  were  certain  dispositions  made,  and  positions  taken, 
which  seemed  to  indicate  that  we  had  something  more  seri 
ous  to  undertake  than  a  rapid  march  after  a  flying  foe.  To 
men  who  have  served  four  years  and  fought  a  score  of  bat 
tles,  the  signs  of  approaching  battle  are  pretty  clear.  I  was 
ordered  by  our  adjutant  to  take  my  company,  with  full 
supply  of  cartridges,  and  report  to  brigade  headquarters. 
As  I  had  been  on  the  skirmish  lines  all  the  preceding  day, 
I  indulged  in  a  little  quiet  reasoning,  while  preparations 
were  being  made,  as  to  the  probable  service  before  me  ;  and 
as  it  was  not  customary  to  detail  the  same  officers  and 
men  for  skirmish  line  or  picket  duty  two  days  in  succession, 
I  drew  my  conclusions,  and  they  made  me  homesick. 

"  However,  I  was  scared  too  soon  ;  just  as  I  was  about  to 
file  off  with  old  Company  B,  I  was  informed  that  the  order 
was  recalled  and  I  could  keep  my  place  in  line.  Firing 
now  began  in  our  front,  telling  us  the  skirmish  line  was 
feeling  the  enemy,  and  warning  us  that  the  services  of  a 
line  of  battle  might  be  needed.  The  woods  in  which  we 


1^2  HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

were,  and  the  general  conformation  of  the  ground,  con 
cealed  the  position  of  the  enemy  from  that  part  of  the  lines. 
But  as  the  firing  became  heavier,  we  were  moved  forward  in 
line,  and  soon  came  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  halted 
for  a  moment  just  within  shelter.  Walking  forward  a  few 
yards  with  some  brother  officers,  we  saw  our  skirmish  lines 
about  half  way  down  the  slope,  hotly  engaged  with  a  strong 
skirmish  line  of  the  enemy,  who  were  posted  along  the 
creek,  and  in  little  squads  by  the  bridge,  and  at  several 
places  sheltered  by  trees  and  bushes  on  the  slope  leading 
up  to  the  enemy's  position  on  the  ridge  beyond.  It  was 
perhaps  a  third  of  a  mile  from  our  position  to  theirs,  but 
the  creek  did  not  evenly  divide  the  valley.  From  our  crest 
the  descent  was  more  gradual,  and  the  distance  to  the 
creek  much  greater  than  from  the  crest  occupied  by  the 
enemy.  Running  diagonally  from  left  to  right  down  the 
slope,  on  our  front,  to  the  creek,  was  a  broad  road,  badly 
cut  up  by  the  passage  of  the  enemy's  trains,  and  partly  con 
cealed  from  us,  because  cutting  in  places  quite  deeply  into 
the  side  of  the  slope,  leaving  the  upper  bank  deep  and 
steep ;  but  after  leaving  the  bridge  it  rose  clear  and  distinct 
in  its  diagonal  course  to  the  creek  beyond.  I  have  a  de 
cidedly  clear  recollection  of  that  road.  It  impressed  me,  as 
standing  upon  the  wooded  crest  I  saw  its  broad,  red  course 
as  it  left  the  creek  and  rose  to  the  opposite  crest,  strewn 
with  the  cast-off  clothing  and  equipments  of  a  retreating 
army,  together  with  its  steep  upper  bank  ;  and  as  our  line  of 
charge,  if  direct,  would  take  us  across  it,  I  wondered  how 
the  boys  would  manage  to  get  up  that  wet  and  slippery 
bank.  But  it  impressed  itself  upon  me  more  substantially 


AAr  INFANTRY  "  CHAKGE." 

J33 

soon  after,  when,  in  charging  down,  about  a  quarter  of  the 
regiment  rolled  pell  mell  down  its  steep  bank,  carrying  an 
undignified  quantity  of  the  muddy,  sticky  sacred  soil  with 
us,  and  making  us  look  like  an  outlaw  band  of  Sioux  braves 
painted  for  the  war-path.  Those  who  get  the  idea  that  a 
line  of  battle  charges  as  if  dressed  on  a  straight  edge,  with 
guns  aligned  to  a  hair  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  with 
alternate  movements  of  right  and  left  legs,  so  perfect  and 
together  as  to  enable  you  to  look  down  the  entire  line  and 
see  the  triangular  hole  made  by  the  bend  of  their  knees, 
ought  to  see  the  real  article  as  it  tears  its  way  through 
brush  and  woods  ;  as  it  tosses  and  heaves  across  fields  ;  as  it 
bends  and  billows  and  crowds  itself  up  the  slope ;  as  it  reels 
and  roars  and  plunges  itself  upon  the  enemy,  perhaps  to 
recoil  broken  into  fragments,  streaming  back  to  shelter. 
This  latter  is  just  the  way  we  went  down  that  slope,  across 
the  run  and  up  to  the  crest  beyond.  We  did  not  wait  long 
in  the  edge  of  the  woods  before  the  order  came,  and  burst 
ing  forth  we  began  the  charge.  The  artillery  opened  on  us 
at  once,  and  as  we  neared  the  run  the  musketry  joined  in 
the  work  of  death.  Many  a  brave  fellow  was  struck  down 
before  the  crest  was  reached.  Especially  was  the  loss  heavy 
during  the  struggle  up  the  rise,  beyond  the  creek.  It  was 
like  all  other  charges  of  like  magnitude,  impossible  to  de 
scribe  ;  the  terrible  rush  of  armed  men,  the  hoarse  com 
mands,  the  fierce  energy  of  action,  the  smoke  and  tumult 
and  tempest  of  cannon  and  musketry  are  beyond  descrip 
tion.  We  reached  the  crest,  pausing  a  moment  to  pour  our 
fire  into  their  ranks,  then  leaped  forward  with  the  smoke, 
tore  our  way  through  the  brush  and  tree-tops  with  which 


HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

they  had  hastily  covered  their  'works,  swarmed  over  it 
shouting,  yelling,  struggling  a  moment  in  the  awful  chaos, 
broke  and  crushed  them,  and — well,  it  was  all  over  in  less 
time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it. 

"  Colors  were  captured  all  along  the  line.  It's  easy 
enough.  All  one  has  to  do  is  to  be  there  and  go  in  with  the 
crowd,  and  be  careful  not  to  let  too  many  get  ahead  of  him, 
else  the  first  choice  of  flags  is  lost.  There  are  some  risks, 
however.  If  the  fellow  who  carries  the  flag  is  obstinate, 
and  don't  want  to  give  it  up,  you  can  hand  him  your  card, 
or  use  any  other  inducement  which  may  occur  to  you  at 
the  time. 

"  Those  of  us  who  took  flags  were  soon  after  permitted 
to  go  to  Washington  and  present  them  to  the  Secretary  of 
War ;  were  granted  a  leave  of  absence  or  furlough  for  thirty 
days,  and  a  Medal  of  Honor  from  Congress." 

III.  A  CAVALRY  REAPER.* 

"  Uncle  Elliott,  I  think  I'd  like  to  be  a  soldier." 
The  speaker  was  a  handsome  boy  of  fifteen,  just  at  the 
age  when  boys  are  apt  to  run  to  hero-worship,  and  Charlie 
Jackson's  hero  was  his  Uncle  Elliott,  who  had  fought  in  the 
war  under  Custer  and  Sheridan,  and  who,  long  before  Char 
lie  had  opened  his  eyes  on  this  world,  had  been  honorably 
mustered  out  of  service,  and  turned   his   attention  to  the 
quieter  pursuits  of  an  American  citizen. 
"Why  do  you  say  that,  Charlie?" 

*  ELLIOTT  M.  NORTON  enlisted  as  a  private  (B)  6th  Michigan  Volunteer  Cavalry,  Oct.  n, 
1862.  Promoted  through  intermediate  grades  to  rank  of  lieutenant  and  adjutant,  served 
with  his  regiment  in  the  field  in  Virginia,  and  for  a  few  months  on  the  Western  frontier, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Salt  Lake  City  in  1865. 


* 

A  CA  VALK  Y  REAPER.  l  ^  * 

"  Well,  I've  been  reading  '  Charles  O'Malley,  or  the  Irish 
Dragoon/  Did  you  ever  read  it  ?  It's  a  daisy  book,  I  tell 
you." 

"  Oh  !  That's  the  reason,  is  it?  Yes,  I've  read  it,  but  I 
wouldn't  like  to  say  just  how  long  ago  ;  and  I'm  inclined  to 
think  it  had  the  same  effect  on  me.  At  any  rate,  when  the 
war  came,  in  1861,  I  was  wild  to  'jine  the  cavalry,'  as  we 
used  to  say." 


LIEUTENANT    ELLIOTT    M.   NORTON, 

ADJUTANT    SIXTH    MICH.    CAVALRY. 

"  I  say,  Uncle,  tell  me  something  about  the  cavalry  and 
how  you  got  the  Medal  and  all." 

"Well,  my  boy,  there  isn't  so  much  to  tell — (just  hand 
me  those  slippers  and  my  old  brier-wood  pipe — seems  to 
bring  me  back  to  camp-life  again).  Four  years  of  fighting 
and  marching  are  equal  to  a  lifetime  of  peaceful  pursuits 
here  at  home.  Time  travels  very  slowly  when  minutes  of 
excitement  seem  like  days,  and  when  hours  of  suspense  are 
like  months  at  other  times.  But  it  doesn't  take  long  to  tell 
about,  as  we  sit  here  now." 


j 36  HORSE,  FOO T  AND  DRA GOONS. 

"  Uncle  Elliott,  how  did  you  feel  in  your  first  battle  ?  " 
"Well,  the  first  fight,  I  think,  was   at    Hanover,    in   Vir 
ginia,  on  the  30th  of  June,  1863.     I   don't  remember  much 
about  it  now,   only  that   I   was  badly  frightened,  and  sup 
posed  we  must  all  be  killed.     It  did  not  seem  possible  that 
any   one  could  live  in   such  a  shower  of  lead.     It  literally 
rained  bullets.     I    determined   to   sell  my  life  dearly  and 
just  *  waded  in.'     A  few  days  after,  we  had  a  stubborn  fight 
at  Hunterstown,  Pennsylvania.     We  drove  the  enemy,  and  I 
was  surprised  to  find  myself  alive  and  able  to  go  into  camp 
at  night.     The  fact  was,  I  was  getting  used  to  it  a  little  ;  it 
seemed  that  when  I  had  plenty  to  do  I  forgot  the  danger." 
"  Uncle,  which  was  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war?" 
"  Charlie,  that's  rather  a  hard  question  to  answer.     Per 
haps  the  most  important  single  battle  was  Gettysburg,  when 
we  drove  General  Lee's  army  across  the  Potomac,  and,  it 
was  said,  *  broke  the  back-bone  of  the  Rebellion.'  " 
"  Were  you  at  Gettysburg,  Uncle  ?  " 

"  Not  precisely  at  the  town,  but  all  around  the  neighbor 
hood.  On  the  third  day  we  were  engaged  part  of  the  time 
with  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  part  of  the  time  in  support 
ing  some  artillery.  This  last  is  the  worst  sort  of  service — 
to  stand  still,  while  every  now  and  then  a  solid  shot  will 
come  rolling  along  like  a  base-ball,  and  knock  down  a  '  set 
of  fours'  like  so  many  tin  soldiers  ;  or  a  shell  may  explode 
just  over  you,  and  cut  off  limbs  of  trees  and  drop  them  on 
you.  This  sort  of  thing  tries  the  nerves  of  horses  and  men, 
you  may  depend.  But  there  is  nothing  to  do  for  it  but 
just  to  close  in  the  gaps  made  by  a  horse  falling  in  the 
ranks,  or,  wounded,  backing  frantically  clear  out  of  them." 


THE  DA  Y  AFTER  GE  TTYSBURG.  l  .  - 

Charlie  seemed  much  impressed  by  this  serious  glimpse 
of  real  war.  He  sat  silent  for  some  minutes,  while  his 
uncle  puffed  away  at  the  brier-wood. 

Suddenly  the  boy  burst  forth  with  a  new  query. 

"  Did  you  ever  kill  a  man  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  I  have— in  the  line  of  duty  ;  probably  sev 
eral,  but  I  only  recollect  one,  and  that  was  in  self- 
defence." 

"  Where  was  that,  sir?  " 

"  It  was  on  the  glorious  Fourth  (the  day  after  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg),  at  Monterey,  Maryland.  Although  the 
enemy  were  firing  rapidly  from  their  field  batteries  and  our 
artillery  replied,  and  our  men  kept  up  a  lively  racket  on  the 
skirmish  line  with  their  carbines,  I  confess  it  has  seemed 
much  more  deafening  in  a  real  old-fashioned  Grand  Rapids 
'Fourth.'  We  had  some  hand-to-hand  encounters.  One 
gigantic  rebel  captain — at  least  he  seemed  so  at  the  time- 
sprang  from  behind  a  high  stump  (we  were  fighting  on  foot), 
and  fired  right  into  my  face.  The  bullet  went  through  the 
rim  of  my  hat,  pretty  near  the  crown.  The  pistol  was  so 
close  that  the  smoke  and  flash  almost  blinded  me  for  a 
second.  At  the  same  moment  I  fired,  and  the  '  Johnnie ' 
fell  back  with  a  groan.  At  that  moment  something  else 
claimed  my  attention,  and  I  never  knew  whether  my  enemy 
was  dead  or  only  wounded." 

"  Were  you  an  officer  then,  Uncle?" 

"  No,  only  a  sergeant  ;  but  I  can  tell  you,  I  never  felt 
prouder  than  when  my  captain  promoted  me  to  be  anon- 
commissioned  officer  of  our  company,  July  I,  1863." 


[^8  HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

"  Was  that  the  narrowest  escape  you  had  in  the  war. 
Uncle?" 

"  No,  I  suppose  our  charge  on  the  rebel  rear-guard  at 
Falling  Waters,  July  14,  of  the  same  year,  was  *  the  closest 
call '  I  ever  had.  The  enemy  had  crossed  the  Potomac, 
and  feeling  secure  from  any  pursuit  in  force  by  our  army, 
was  resting  some  of  his  infantry  on  the  opposite  bank. 
The  Michigan  brigade  was  ordered  to  advance  a  short  dis 
tance  and  form  in  line.  My  regiment,  the  6th  Michigan 
Cavalry,  was  then  moved  forward  very  quietly  to  within 
two  hundred  yards  and  halted,  and  companies  *  B,'  of  which 
I  was  sergeant,  and  '  F  ' — in  all  about  one  hundred  men- 
were  ordered  to  charge  the  breastworks  which  the  enemy 
had  thrown  up  to  cover  the  crossing.  It  was  a  greater 
blunder  than  the  '  Charge  of  the  Six  Hundred  '  at  Balaclava, 
from  which  less  than  two  hundred  returned.  But  our  offi 
cers  and  men  never  faltered. 

"  Theirs  not  to  reason  why, 
Theirs  but  to  do  and  die." 

"  The  enemy  at  that  point  comprised  a  large  force  of 
infantry,  who  could  have  successfully  resisted  a  brigade  of 
cavalry.  What  chance  do  you  think  our  little  squadron 
had? 

"  Well,  a  Confederate  soldier  who  saw  the  whole  affair 
answers  the  question.*  He  says  : 

"  'As  Heth's  Division,  guarding  the  line  of  the  retreat  of 
the  main  army,  reached  Falling  Waters,  near  the  Potomac, 
while  lying  on  the  ground  with  arms  stacked,  in  a  state  of 

*  "A  Confederate  Soldier,"  in  the  Southern  Bivouac. 


"  CHARGE  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDRED."  l  ^ 

presumed  security,  they  were  attacked  by  the  enemy  under 
the  following  circumstances  : 

"'  Generals  Heth  and  Pettigrew,  Capt.  Jas.  H.  Moore, 
and  other  officers,  from  an  eminence,  were  reviewing  the  route 
over  which  they  had  just  travelled,  when  all  of  a  sudden  a 
small  force  of  cavalry  burst  forth  from  a  skirt  of  woods 
about  two  hundred  yards  distant.  The  little  group  took 
the  cavalry  for  Confederates.  The  cavalry  then  displayed 
the  United  States  flag,  and  galloping  up  to  Pettigrew,  with 
swords  drawn,  shouted  out  "  Surrender  !  "  They  rushed 
over  the  little  group,  firing  their  pistols  and  mortally  wound 
ing  General  Pettigrew.  These  brave  fellows  then  attacked 
the  command  of  Heth.  Heth's  men  very  soon  realized  the 
situation  of  things,  and  seizing  their  muskets,  opened  on 
this  party  with  effect,  and  very  soon  despatched  the  force, 
tumbling  them  out  of  their  saddles  in  every  direction. 
They  were  all  killed  or  wounded  in  a  very  few  moments. 
This  was  the  last  battle  fought  north  of  the  Potomac  in  the 
Gettysburg  campaign.' 

"  You  see,  Charlie,  he  says  *  they  were  all  killed  or 
wounded,'  but  that  is  not  quite  true.  Of  that  devoted  band 
of  one  hundred,  I  and  five  others  rode  back  ;  the  rest  fell 
victims  of  a  foolish  order. 

"  You  asked  me  if  it  was  a  narrow  escape.  You  can 
judge  for  yourself.  A  rifle  ball  took  off  my  hat,  another 
pierced  every  thickness  but  two  of  my  overcoat,  which  was 
rolled  and  strapped  on  the  cantle  of  my  saddle  ;  three  bul 
lets  passed  through  my  clothes  and  three  through  my  horse. 
What  a  charger  he  was,  Charlie  !  A  superbly  built  black, 
nearly  seventeen  hands  high,  and  as  active  as  a  cat.  I  saw 


HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

both  my  officers  fall,  and  the  detachment  almost  *  wiped 
out  '  in  two  or  three  minutes.  I  turned  to  leave  when  a 
Confederate  infantryman  thrust  his  piece  almost  in  my  face 
and  fired.  My  face  was  filled  with  powder,  and  the  ball 
cut  off  a  lock  of  my  hair,  which  was  rather  long  and  thick; 
with  my  sabre  I  struck  the  barrel  of  the  musket  an  up 
ward  blow,  and  at  the  same  time  took  a  downward  cut  at 
the  Johnnie.  Without  wasting  any  time,  however,  my  horse 
carried  me  back  over  the  works  and,  while  I  laid  as  close  to 
his  neck  as  a  Comanche,  used  the  spur  and  flat  of  my  sabre 
on  his  sides.  He  carried  me  to  our  lines,  nearly  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  away,  and  as  I  dismounted,  the  grand  old  fellow 
sank  down  in  a  heap,  shivered  and  was  dead." 

"  Was  there  much  fighting  the  last  year  of  the  war?" 
"  Yes  :  the  year  1864  was  a  constant  series  of  hard  strug 
gles  on  both  sides.  Our  cavalry  was  improving  in  every 
respect,  and  our  supply  of  horses  was  unlimited  ;  the  enemy 
was  running  short  of  horses  and  supplies  of  all  kinds,  and 
their  horsemen  were  getting  discouraged." 

"  Now,  Uncle  Elliott,  tell  me  how  you  captured  the  flag." 
"  It  was  near  the  last  gasp  of  the  war,  only  a  day  or  two 
before  Lee's  surrender — Sailor's  Creek,*  it  was  called.  The 
battle  began  about  half-past  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
I  was  then  a  lieutenant  and  acting-adjutant  of  my  regiment. 
At  five-thirty  we  were  pursuing  the  enemy  in  l  column  of 
fours  '  at  a  gallop.  I  was  riding  at  the  head  of  the  regi 
ment  with  the  colonel.  Seeing  a  squad  of  the  enemy,  about 
twenty  in  number,  about  sixty  rods  to  the  left  with  a  battle- 
flag,  I  left  the  regiment  and  went  for  them,  with  no  other 

*  This  is  the  same  battle  described  by  Lieutenant  Riddell,  page  130. 


ANOTHER  FLAG-CAPTURE.  I4I 

object  than  to  capture  a  flag.  I  had  made  several  attempts 
to  do  this  before,  but  failed.  When  within  six  or  eight 
rods  of  the  party  they  fired  together  at  me,  leaving  their 
carbines  empty,  and  me  unharmed.  With  drawn  sabre  I 
rushed  upon  them  and  ordered  them  to  throw  down  their 
arms,  which  they  did.  They  did  not  so  quickly  give  up 
the  flag.  But  I  suppose  they  saw  I  was  bound  to  have  it, 
and  as  some  of  our  troops  were  now  ahead  of  these  Confed 
erates  they  sullenly  resigned  the  flag  to  my  care.  Tearing 
it  from  the  staff  and  thrusting  it  inside  my  coat,  I  told  my 
prisoners  to  fall  into  line  and  start  for  the  rear. 

"  It  was  after  seven  o'clock  that  evening  when  I  overtook 
the  command,  then  going  into  camp.  I  kept  my  prize  a 
secret  until  evening,  when  as  we  (the  colonel  and  I  occupied 
the  same  tent)  were  about  turning  in  I  told  Col.  Vinton 
that  if  he  would  promise  not  to  say  anything  I  would  show 
him  something.  He  agreed,  and  I  then  pulled  out  my 
trophy.  The  old  war-dog  fairly  danced  with  delight. 

"  t  Jeems'  River!  '  cried  he,  '  my  regiment  shall  have  the 
honor  of  capturing  that  flag.  No,  Adjutant,  I  shall  break 
faith  with  you  ! '  And  he  did.  But  I  forgave  him. 

''After  the  surrender,  I  was  ordered  to  Washington,  in 
company  with  a  number  of  other  flag-captors,  to  turn  over 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  all  the  flags  captured  by  the  cavalry 
corps.  Here  we  each  received  a  furlough  of  thirty  days 
and  a  Medal  of  Honor. 

"  My  battle-flag  belonged  to  the  44th  Tennessee  Regi 
ment.  It  was  of  heavy  silk,  12  x  4^  feet  in  dimensions,  with 
gilt  stars  and  bars,  and  the  motto  '  Death  to  Invaders.'  ' 

"  Well,  Uncle,  that  is  very  interesting ;  but  although  you 


I42  HORSE,  FOOT  AND  DRAGOONS. 

ran  a  great  risk  of  getting  shot  when  you  went  for  the  flag, 
it  seems  to  me  that  the  Southern  color-guard  gave  up  the 
flag  pretty  easily  to  one  man." 

"  Ah,  my  boy,  those  were  gallant  men.  They  had  fought 
us  during  four  long,  weary,  years  ;  but  when  they  saw  our 
forces  closing  around  them  on  that  day,  they  realized  that 
the  end  had  come,  and  then  resistance  died  out  with  the 
last  volley  from  their  carbines.  Just  how  they  felt  is  de 
scribed  by  an  eloquent  Southern  soldier,  who,  writing  of  this 
very  occasion,  says : 

"  *  Soon  we  hear  the  notes  of  a  cavalry  bugle.  How  mer 
rily  it  sings  !  how  defiant  its  tones  !  how  martial  the  strains 
as  the  gentle  south  wind  brings  its  cadence  to  our  ears  !  It 
is  no  stranger  to  us,  for  its  strains  we  have  heard  before, 
and  we  know  their  meaning.  It  is  Custer's  trumpeter,  rally 
ing  his  dashing  squadrons  to  the  headlong  charge.  We  fall 
back  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  to  receive  it.  A  Georgia  brig 
ade  re-enforces  us.  On,  on  they  come,  as  though  on  pleas 
ure  bent.  The  sharp  clang  of  sabres  is  heard  as  they  fly 
from  the  scabbards.  A  moment  more  they  flash  in  the 
sunlight,  magnificently.  The  enemy  ascends  the  summit  of 
the  hill  and  dash  on  us.  We  pour  in  a  deadly  and  appalling 
volley,  and  thirty  brave  fellows  fall  from  their  saddles. 
The  conflict  is  short,  sharp,  and  decisive,  and  the  gallant 
Custer  and  his  squadron  fall  back  before  overwhelming 
numbers  as  gayly  and  gallantly  as  they  came.  But  the  lines 
are  closing  around  us,  and  the  Confederacy  is  in  its  death 
throes.  Four  hours  later  and  the  bloody  conflict  of  Sailor's 
Creek  closes  the  last  chapter  in  its  melancholy  history. 

"  '  Nearly  all  of  Ewell's  Corps  are  captured.     Oh,  the  an- 


CUSTER  A  T  SAILOR  'S  CREEK.  j  .  . 

guish  of  the  hour!  We' saw,  surrendered,  eighteen  battle- 
flags  which  bore  upon  their  tattered  folds  the  historic 
names  of  Manassas,  Cold-Harbor,  the  Wilderness  and 
Spottsylvania  Court-House.  Wait !  Every  cloud  has  its 
silver  lining.  The  next  morning,  after  a  refreshing  slumber 
on  the  sweetest  of  all  beds — the  bare  ground — we  are  again 
marshalled  in  line. 

"  '  Down  that  line  came  General  Custer.  By  his  yellow 
hair  and  boyish  face  he  is  known  to  all  of  us.  Near  the 
centre  of  the  line  he  turns  to  his  band  and  orders  it  to  play 
"Dixie."  As  the  marvellous  strains  of  the  Confederate 
war-song  floated  in  liquid  sweetness  around  us,  we  break 
into  tumultuous  cheering.  General  Custer  waves  his  hat, 
and  a  thousand  gallant  soldiers  in  blue  dash  their  caps  in 
the  air. 

"  '  Such  was  General  Custer  in  the  presence  of  a  con 
quered  foe.  Here  might  the  artist  have  found  his  inspira 
tion  for  "  Custer's  Last  Rally,"  and  the  Southern  poet  who 
wrote : 

"  '  The  nations  of  the  earth  shall  know 
That  love,  not  hate,  alone  can  glow 
In  soldier-hearts  by  valor  tried 
On  many  a  field,  and  this  our  pride, 
When  heroes  of  the  Blue  and  Gray 
Shall  each  to  each  due  homage  pay, 
And  scorn  with  all  their  martial  souls 
The  cowards  base  and  venal  ghouls 
Who  shunned  the  conflict  they  had  bred, 
And  live  but  to  malign  the  dead.'  "* 

*  "A  Confederate  Soldier,"  in  the  Southern  Bivouac. 


FIGHTING   THE    BATTLE    O  ER    AGAIN. 


144 


FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 

IT  was  a  wet  day  in  November  at  the  Soldiers'  Home. 
Four  veterans  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  were  enjoy 
ing  themselves  in  an  innocent  fashion.  Two  were  playing 
chess.  It  was  not  serious  chess  by  any  means,  and  when 
ever  the  players  lagged  in  the  conversation  they  were 
cheerfully  relieved  by  the  others,  who  appeared  to  act  as 
seconds  in  a  peculiar  game — they  called  it  in  old  soldier 
slang,  "  swapping  lies."  All,  but  one,  were  smoking  pipes, 
and  punctuating  their  talk  with  puffs,  now  and  then  taking 
the  pipe  out  of  the  mouth  and  waving  it  in  a  lofty  manner, 
intended  to  be  at  once  impressive  and  convincing.  One  of 
the  players  was  a  white-haired  man,  who  had  been  with 
Sherman  in  the  Great  March  to  the  Sea,  and  now,  being 
without  kindred,  he  was  spending  his  last  days  upon  one  of 
10  145 


146 


FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 


the  most  beautiful  of  the  green  pastures  for  ancient  war- 
horses  that  a  grateful  country  has  provided. 

They  were  talking  of  the  promptness  with  which  the 
people  of  the  North  answered  the  President's  call  to  arms 
in  the  early  days  of  the  war. 

"Well,"  said  old  Sergeant  Bent,  "none  on  'em  did  bet- 
ter'n  Illinoy." 

"  Ohio  wa'nt  no  slouch  them  days,"  remarked  Private 
Strong,  who  was  standing  behind  the  first  speaker,  nursing 
his  elbow. 

"  That's  so,"  grunted  Peter  Williams,  who  never  indulged 
in  long  sentences,  but  was  generally  supposed  among  his 
associates  to  do  "  a  heap  of  thinking." 

The  fourth  man — Corporal  Prim — was  more  laconic  still. 
After  poring  over  the  chess-board  for  a  few  moments  he 
briefly  remarked,  "  Check  !  " 

By  mutual  consent  a  halt  was  called,  and  the  ancient 
Sergeant,  taking  up  the  thread  where  he  had  dropped  it, 
continued  :  "  I  ain't  a  going  back  on  Ohio  ;  she  done  noble  ; 
but  as  an  Illinoy  soldier  I  hev  a  pride  in  her  war  record. 
See  here  what  the  adjutant-general  of  the  State  said  in 
his  report.  I  cut  it  out  a  long  time  ago."  The  old  man 
produced  a  great  leathern  wallet,  and  turning  over  a  bundle 
of  discharges  and  pension  papers  found  a  newspaper  clip 
ping  which  he  handed  over  to  Comrade  Strong,  saying, 
"Your  eyes  better'n  mine;  jest  read  that  to  the  crowd." 

With  one  hand  raised  to  fix  the  attention  of  his  listeners, 
Strong  read  the  following  : 

"  *  The  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  making  the  call  upon 
this  State,  assumed  that  a  draft  would  be  necessary,  and  in 


ILLINOIS  PA  TRIO  TISM.  ^ 

anticipation  that  the  States  would  not  be  able  to  contribute 
their  quotas  of  the  call  in  July  (1862),  announced  that  if  any 
State  should  not,  by  the  i8th  of  August,  furnish  its  quota 
of  the  three-years  volunteers,  the  deficiency  would  be  made 
up  by  special  draft  from  the  militia.  .  .  .  These  vigorous 
measures  gave  hope  of  a  speedy  termination  of  this  terrible 
war.  The  people  of  the  State  received  the  announcement 
with  the  wildest  excitement  and  most  unbounded  satisfac 
tion.  Messengers  and  committees  from  every  portion  of 
the  State  hastened  to  the  capital,  demanding  that,  as  they 
were  ready  to  perform  their  share  of  the  work  of  saving  the 
Government,  that  they  should  not  be  drafted  so  long  as 
they  were  willing  to  volunteer.  This  condition  of  things 
was  promptly  communicated  to  the  War  Department,  and 
the  assignment  of  our  quota  under  both  calls  urgently  re 
quested.  The  next  day  it  was  announced  that  our  quota 
under  each  call  would  be  26,148,  but  as  Illinois  had  fur 
nished  16,987  men  in  excess  of  her  quota  of  those  in  the 
field,  the  total  number  required  under  both  calls  was  35,320. 
.  .  .  On  the  Qth  August,  from  returns  made  to  this  Depart 
ment,  I  informed  the  public  that  there  would  not  be  a 
draft  :  this  was  upon  the  strength  of  the  despatch  from 
Washington  that  our  quota  was  35,320.  .  .  .  On  the  even 
ing  of  that  day,  however,  the  assistant-general  announced 
that  it  had  been  decided  in  fixing  the  quota  not  to  regard 
those  in  the  field  before  the  call,  leaving  our  quota  at 
52,296.  ...  To  raise  the  increased  number  (16,976)  of  vol 
unteers,  but  thirteen  days  were  allowed.  The  floating  pop 
ulation  of  the  State  who  would  enlist  had  already  done  so. 
These  new  volunteers  must  come,  if  come  at  all,  from  the 


I48  FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 

farmers  and  mechanics  of  the  State.  It  is  no  exaggeration 
to  say  that,  inspired  by  a  holy  zeal,  animated  by  a  common 
purpose,  and  firmly  resolved  on  rescuing  this  Government 
from  the  verge  of  ruin  and  restoring  it  to  the  condition  in 
which  our  fathers  left  it,  over  50,000  of  them  left  their  har 
vest  ungathered,  their  tools  on  their  benches,  their  ploughs 
in  the  furrows,  and  turned  their  backs  upon  home  and  loved 
ones ;  and  before  eleven  days  had  expired,  the  demands  of 
the  country  were  met  and  both  quotas  were  filled  !  Proud 
indeed  was  the  day  to  all  Illinoisans  when  the  extraordinary 
announcement  was  made  that  the  enlistment  rolls  were  full. 
And  when  the  historian  shall  write  the  record  of  those 
eventful  days  of  August,  1862,  no  prouder  monument  can 
be  erected  to  the  honor  and  memory  of  a  free  people  than 
a  plain,  full  narrative  of  the  actual  facts  ! ' 

"  There,"  burst  in  the  Sergeant,  "  what  do  you  say  to 
that !  Ain't  that  bully  ?  " 

"  Why,  the  fact  is,"  quietly  drawled  Corporal  Prim,  "  I 
enlisted  under  that  call  myself." 

The  reading  of  the  Adjutant-General's  report  seemed  to 
stir  the  usually  placid  pulse  of  the  Corporal,  and  as  his  com 
panions  pulled  at  their  pipes  and  gazed  at  him  in  mute 
agreement  that  he  had  the  floor,  the  veteran  leaned  back  in 
his  chair  and  went  on:  "  Yes,  I  enlisted  in  the  iiQth  Illi 
nois  Infantry  in  1862,  but  we  weren't  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  until  October  of  that  year.  Our  first 
duty  was  guarding  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad  for  more 
than  a  hundred  miles,  and  we  came  mighty  near  being  gob 
bled  up  by  the  rebel  generals,  Van  Dorn  and  Forrest,  near 
Holly  Springs ;  but  while  they  were  capturing  one  of  our 


CAPTAIN  McCONNELL.  l^g 

companies,  five  miles  away,  our  little  detachment  jumped 
on  a  train  and  '  changed  station  '  in  a  hurry.  In  February, 
1864,  we  joined  General  Sherman  at  Vicksburg,  and  the  next 
month  were  sent  under  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  to  join  Banks' 
Red  River  expedition.  My  company,  *  H,'  was  com 
manded  by  a  gallant  officer,  Captain  SAMUEL  McCONNELL. 

A  MEDALLIST  OF  THE  iiTH  ILLINOIS. 


"  The  troops  from  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  were  rear 
guard  of  Banks'  army  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
and  also  guarding  Commodore  Porter's  ironclad  fleet  —  in 
fantry  guarding  ironclads  the  same  as  a  train  of  wagons  — 
the  fleet  being  covered  with  cotton.  On  our  trip  up  Red 
River  we  landed  at  Simsport,  Louisiana,  and  on  the  I4th  of 
March,  1864,  we  started  on  the  march  to  attack  Fort  De 
Russy,  which  we  captured  after  28  miles,  before  sundown. 
Captain  McConnell  captured  the  field-glass  of  the  command 
ing  officer,  as  he  said,  to  show  that  he  '  was  in  with  the  first  '  ; 
it  was  on  the  platform  of  the  pivot-gun.  Our  next  battle 
was  at  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  April  9,  1864,  where  we  drove 
Dick  Taylor  from  the  field.  Our  regiment  captured  the 
flag  of  the  1  2th  Texas  Infantry;  on  the  flag  was  embroi 
dered  in  silk,  '  Presented  to  the  I2th  Texas  Infantry  by  the 
ladies  of  Galveston?  Our  next  fight  was  at  Bayou  La 
Moore,  La.,  May  7,  1864.  We  were  sent  in  some  heavy 
timber  on  the  left  of  the  line  of  battle,  as  there  was  heavy 
skirmishing  in  that  direction.  We  took  our  position  about 
four  hundred  yards  in  the  timber,  and  about  one  mile  from 
the  line  of  battle.  The  regiment  took  position  in  a  low  de 
pression  and  was  ordered  to  lie  down.  There  was  no  enemy 


I  [JO  FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 

in  sight,  but  the  musket-balls  striking  the  trees  around  us 
and  cutting  off  boughs  over  our  heads,  with  an  occasional 
solid  shot  from  a  one-pounder  the  Rebs  had.  We  had  not 
to  wait  long.  The  5th  Texas  Infantry  came  on  the  double- 
quick,  with  the  Texas  fierce  yell,  to  turn  our  left  flank  and 
get  between  us  and  our  line  of  battle.  The  heavy  timber 
and  underbrush  concealed  us  as  we  lay  on  the  ground  in  the 
depression,  and  instead  of  gaining  our  rear  by  passing  our 
left  flank  they  came  square  in  on  our  front.  When  they 
got  within  about  thirty  paces  of  us  we  fired  a  volley  into 
them,  and  then  charged  on  the  double-quick  with  the  bayo 
net.  In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it  there  was  not  a 
Texan  to  be  seen,  except  the  dead  and  wounded.  The 
regiment  then  fell  back  to  the  same  depression.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  8Qth  Indiana  Infantry  was  ordered  to  our 
assistance.  They  were  passing  along  in  our  rear,  on  the 
double-quick,  by  the  right  flank,  when  the  5th,  6th  and  /th 
Texas  Infantry  made  another  dash  to  gain  our  rear.  This 
time  they  made  the  attempt  to  get  round  the  right  flank. 
The  right  flank  of  the  8gth  Indiana  had  passed  our  right 
flank  about  fifty  paces,  when  the  Texans  opened  fire  on 
them  at  short  range  ;  but  the  Hoosiers  kept  on  the  trot 
until  they  cleared  our  regiment,  when  they  came  to  a  front. 
Both  regiments  charged  with  the  bayonet,  when  the  enemy 
again  ran.  Each  Reb  seemed  to  be  an  arsenal  on  legs ;  be 
sides  his  musket,  each  man  had  two  navy  revolvers  and  a 
heavy  knife,  about  twenty  inches  long,  with  eight  feet  of 
cord,  one  end  attached  to  the  handle  of  the  knife  and  the 
other  end  tied  around  the  wrist ;  the  prisoners  we  took  ex 
plained  that  the  knife  was  to  be  used  by  throwing  it  into  a 


STRIPPING  FOR  THE  FIGHT.  l  5  r 

Yankee,  and  the  string  was  to  pull  it  back  for  another 
throw. 

"On  the  7th  of  February,  1865,  we  were  sent  to  New 
Orleans,  and  camped  on  General  Jackson's  old  battle 
ground,  six  miles  below  the  city.  We  were  moved  from 
there  in  a  short  time  to  Dauphine  Island,  at  the  mouth  of 
Mobile  Bay.  From  there  we  went  up  the  bay  and  marched 
across  to  Spanish  Fort ;  there  our  brigade  guarded  the 
flank  of  the  forces  that  were  operating  against  Spanish 
Fort  to  keep  re-enforcements  from  coming  by  way  of  Fort 
Blakely,  opposite  the  city  of  Mobile.*  After  the  forces 
had  completely  invested  Fort  Spanish,  our  division  was 
eent  up  to  take  part  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Blakely,  which 
commenced  on  the  3d  of  April  and  ended  on  the  Qth  of 
April,  1865." 

Here  the  Corporal  was  interrupted  by,  "  Blakely? — Why, 
I  was  there,  too,"  from  the  Sergeant,  and  "  We  helped  you 
take  it,"  from  Strong.  "  Is  that  so?  "  replied  Prim.  "  Per 
haps  I'd  better  stop  ;  'twont  be  much  news  to  you  fellows." 

"  Go  on  !  go  on  !  "  urged  the  others,  and  the  veteran  went 
on  with  his  story. 

"  On  April  Qth,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  an 
order  came  from  brigade  headquarters  that  our  company 
was  detailed  to  lead  the  charge  on  Fort  Blakely.  Soon  we 
had  orders  to  form  the  company,  and  see  that  each  man  had 


*  Canby  appeared  before  Mobile  on  the  27th  of  March.  The  city  of  Mobile  was  pro 
tected  by  two  forts,  besides  other  intrenchments— Spanish  Fort,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
bay,  and  Fort  Blakely,  north  of  the  city.  These  forts  were  invested.  On  the  night  of  the 
8th  of  April  the  national  troops,  having  carried  the  enemy's  works  at  one  point,  Spanish 
Fort  was  evacuated  ;  and  on  the  gth,  the  very  day  of  Lee's  surrender,  Blakely  was  carried 
by  assault,  with  a  considerable  loss  to  us.  On  the  nth  the  city  was  evacuated 


152 


FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 


his  arms  in  good  condition,  with  full  forty  rounds  of  ammu 
nition. 

"  The  men  took  their  places  in  silence,  and  answered  to 
their  names  as  though  they  felt  it  would  be  the  last  time 
they  would  stand  in  line  for  roll-call  on  this  earth.  I  felt 
the  tears  in  my  eyes  as  I  saw  the  boys  stripping  off  every 
thing  that  would  be  an  incumbrance,  and  tightening  the 
waist-belt  and  making  every  preparation  for  a  desperate 
rush.  We  took  our  position  in  the  rifle-pits  in  front  of  our 
brigade ;  the  charging  columns  of  infantry  were  in  line 
close  in  rear  of  us.  Near  where  I  was  standing  the  two 
color-bearers  of  the  2ist  Missouri,  counciling  together  in 
regard  to  throwing  their  deck  of  cards  away.  One  was  say 
ing  that  they  had  gone  through  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry ; 
Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Tupelo  and  Nashville,  and 
had  thrown  away  their  decks  of  cards  at  all  of  those  places 
and  had  come  out  all  right ;  and  that,  as  cards  were  hard  to 
get,  he  thought  they  would  take  the  risk  of  going  in 
the  fight  with  them.  The  other  thought  they  ought  to 
throw  them  away ;  but  as  the  first  man  was  not  willing,  he 
would  not  carry  them  and  he  gave  them  to  his  comrade. 
They  were  large,  strong  men.  When  the  bugle  sounded, 
they  left  their  regiment  and  overtook  Captain  McConnell, 
about  forty  paces  from  the  fort,  where  they  were  both  shot 
dead,  one  falling  against  the  captain.  I  heard  distinctly 
the  balls  pass  through  their  bodies. 

"  When  Colonel  T.  J.  Kinney  of  our  regiment  was 

giving  the  final  instructions,  Tom  O (known  as  'Big 

Ugly ' )  said :  '  Colonel,  I  think  we  had  better  not  go  in 
the  fort,  for  it  will  only  raise  a  fuss  !  ' 


OVER  THE  WORKS.  jr-, 

"The  color-bearers  of  the  three  regiments  of  our  brig 
ade  seemed  to  think  it  was  a  foot-race,  as  all  three  left 
their  regiments  and  started  on'  a  dead  run  for  the  rebel 
works.  Our  color-bearer,  a  bow-legged  Dutchman,  came 
over  the  works  two  hundred  yards  ahead  of  his  regiment. 
He  did  not  stop  to  plant  the  colors  on  the  works,  but  went 
straight  on.  He  is  running  yet  for  all  I  know.  We  made 
our  way  through  the  abatis,  which  covered  the  ground 
in  front  of  the  works  for  two  hundred  yards.  The 
abatis,  you  know,  was  made  by  a  thick  growth  of  small 
pine  trees  that  were  felled,  the  tops  out ;  the  limbs 
trimmed  and  cut  off  at  the  proper  distance  and  sharpened, 
which  made  our  progress  very  difficult.  When  we  got 
through,  we  found  a  wire  stretched  along  the  front  of  the 
ditch  and  about  twenty  feet  from  it.  When  I  got  to  the 
ditch  I  looked  around  to  see  if  the  company  was  close  at 
hand.  I  found  only  the  Captain  near;  he  was  just  in  front ; 
the  rest  of  the  company  was  some  distance  back,  making 
the  best  progress  they  could.  There  was  no  time  to  waste. 
Captain  McConnell  said,  '  Come  along,  Prim/  We  started 
for  the  works,  got  over  the  ditch,  and  were  near  the  top  of 
the  breastworks  when  the  rebels  ran  out  a  gun  through  the 
embrasure  and  fired.  In  the  smoke  and  confusion  we  had 
not  noticed  the  embrasure,  and  we  were  close  to  the  muzzle 
of  the  gun  when  it  was  fired.  We  were  blown  back  in  the 
ditch.  We  were  on  our  feet  in  a  moment,  and  went  over 
the  works  among  the  guns  and  gunners ;  I  with  my  musket 
cocked  and  bayonet  fixed,  the  captain  with  revolver  in  hand, 
ready  for  instant  use.  The  gunners  held  up  their  white 
hats  in  token  of  surrender.  I  suppose  they  thought  that 


!54  FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 

only  two  men  would  not  come  over  the  works  unless  they 
had  backing  close  at  hand.  I  told  them  to  get  down  close 
to  the  breastwork,  where  they  would  be  out  of  danger ; 
they  did  so. 

"  Captain  McConnell  and  I  went  to  the  rear  of  the  works 
and  turned  to  the  left,  towards  the  bay,  and  opened  fire 
with  musket  and  revolver  on  a  squad  of  Rebs  that  was  try 
ing  to  get  to  a  small  gun-boat  that  was  at  the  landing  on 
the  right  of  their  works.  They  fired  one  volley  at  us  and 
turned  to  the  right.  We  kept  on  our  course  till  we  came 
near  their  right,  on  the  bluff  near  the  bay,  when  a  captain 
faced  his  company  to  the  rear  and  they  came  to  a  '  ready  '  on 
us.  I  thought  my  time  had  come,  for  it  did  not  seem  pos 
sible  that  they  could  miss  us  at  that  distance ;  but  at  that 
instant  some  of  our  men  came  over  the  works  and  saved 
our  bacon.  The  rebel  company  surrendered  to  Captain 
McConnell,  and  he  took  the  rebel  flag  that  was  on  the 
works.  The  gun-boat  was  still  at  the  landing.  It  was 
lying  broadside  to  land,  and  the  gang-plank  was  still  out  and 
the  boat  was  crowded  with  rebels  that  had  taken  refuge  on 
board.  We  concluded  to  take  the  boat  in  and  got  within 
about  one  hundred  yards  of  it  when  we  halted,  and  the 
captain  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  risking 
more  than  we  cared  about  ;  although  the  boat  had  a  white 
flag  hoisted,  we  were  afraid  it  was  a  trick  to  catch  some 
Yanks.  We  fell  back  in  good  order  and  the  boat  steamed 
over  to  Mobile.  I  did  not  get  a  scratch,  but  Captain 
McConnell  was  hit  by  a  piece  of  shell  on  his  left  knee  and 
his  clothes  were  riddled  by  Minie  balls. 

"  Our  brigade  was  paraded  July  12,  1865,  on  Government 


THE  COLORED  TROOPS.  l^ 

Street,  opposite  the  headquarters  of  General  Kilby  Smith, 
and  the  Medal  of  Honor  was  presented  to  Captain  McCon- 
nell  by  Lieut.  Colonel  Lyons,  Assistant  Adjutant-General, 
i6th  Army  Corps.  He  made  a  splendid  presentation 
speech.  The  captain  seemed  to  think  it  a  more  trying  or 
deal  than  the  capturing  of  a  rebel  flag,  and  his  company 
took  as  much  pride  in  it  as  he  did." 

After  a  few  minutes'  pause  Private  Strong  asked : 

"  What  regiment  was  yours,  Sergeant  ?  " 

"  The  I22d  Illinois.  At  the  siege  of  Blakely  we  were  on 
the  left  of  Corporal  Prim's  regiment." 

u  And  my  regiment,  the  9/th,  was  on  your  right,  Corpo 
ral." 

"  It  looks  as  if  we  had  General  Canby's  entire  force  repre 
sented  here,"  chimed  in  Peter  Williams. 

"  Don't  forget  the  colored  troops ;  they  were  on  the  ex 
treme  right,  next  the  9/th,  you  know,"  remarked  the  Cor 
poral. 

"  Yes,"  said  Strong,  "  they  did  well  when  they  came  to 

close  quarters." 

"  You  sec,"  continued  Strong,  "  I  was  Colonel  Vifquain's 
standing  orderly,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  and 
hearing  a  good  deal  about  the  operations  in  front  of 
Blakely. 

COLONEL  VIFQUAIN  AT  BLAKELY. 

"The  Qth  of  April,  1865,  was  an  eventful  day  around 
there.  Since  the  2d  of  the  month  the  trenches  had  been 
pushed  forward  with  great  energy.  Colonel  Vifquain  had 
charge  of  the  works  in  front  of  the  Second  Division,  1 3th 


56 


FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 


Army  Corps.  The  division  was  under  the  command  of 
C.  C.  Andrews,  the  corps  under  Maj.-Gen.  Steele.  On 
the  right  of  Andrews'  Division  was  Hawkins'  colored  Di 
vision,  and  the  works  in  front  of  this  division  had  not  been 
pushed  with  the  same  vigor  as  those  in  front  of  Andrews', 
so  that  on  the  9th  of  April,  in  the  morning,  several  rifle 
shots  had  been  sent  through  the  third  parallel  which  Vif- 
quain  was  then  completing.  Not  having  lost  one  man  as 
yet,  while  at  work,  and  not  desirous  to  lose  any  unless  it 
was  unavoidable,  the  Colonel  reported  the  fact  to  General 
Andrews,  about  twelve  o'clock  noon,  and  requested  that 
the  colored  division  be  instructed  to  occupy  the  ground  on 
his  right  and  in  their  front,  so  as  to  push  back  the  rebel 
line  of  pickets  and  skirmishers.  He  also  reported  the  facts 
to  General  Steele,  who  ordered  the  colored  division  to  ad 
vance  sufficiently  to  answer  the  requirements. 

"  The  rebel  line  of  pickets  was  unusually  strong  that  day, 
and  the  works  of  the  Second  Division  were  not  over  fifty 
yards  from  the  little  V  redoubts  occupied  by  the  rebel 
pickets.  So  close  were  they,  indeed,  that  the  night  pre 
vious,  a  beautiful  moonlight  night,  several  rebel  bullets 
struck  the  spades  of  our  working  force.  The  spades  were 
bright,  and  the  moon,  shining  on  them,  made,  so  to  speak, 
looking-glass  targets  for  the  rebels  as  the  earth  was  flung 
over  the  parapet. 

"  At  four  o'clock  P.M.  the  colored  division  started  on  its 
advance  and  were  soon  greeted  by  a  terrible  cross-fire  of 
artillery,  which,  added  to  the  numerous  torpedoes  with 
which  the  ground  was  covered,  made  the  task  a  telling  one. 
The  officers  of  the  negro  division  behaved  with  unusual 


COLONEL   VIFQUAIN.  I5~ 

gallantry,  but  their  men  had  laid  down  and  could  not  be 
made  to  rise  up  again  under  the  destructive  me  from  their 
front,  and  the  secret  fire  that  sprang  up  now  and  then  from 
under  their  feet  as  the  torpedoes  were  trodden  upon. 

"  Generals  Canby,  Steele  and  Andrews  were  on  the  ex 
treme  right  of  our  rifle-pits  and  could  see  everything  very 
well.  General  Canby,  who  commanded  the  Military  Divis 
ion  of  the  Gulf,  turned  round  and  inquired,  *  What  can  we 
do  to  relieve  them  ? '  Colonel  Vifquain  said  that  if  we  were 
to  charge,  the  rebel  fire  would  be  turned  upon  us,  thus 
relieving,  to  some  extent,  the  colored  division.  He  con 
sulted  with  Generals  Steele  and  Andrews,  and  very  soon 
afterwards  General  Andrews  ordered  him  to  prepare  to 
lead  the  charge.  The  regiment  was  put  in  line  of  battle  in 
the  third  parallel,  the  76th  Illinois  being  behind  our 
right,  and  the  24th  Indiana  Volunteers  behind  the  left  of 
the  97th  Illinois.  These  two  regiments  were  crowded  in 
the  zig-zags  and  second  and  first  parallels,  and  were  to  fol 
low  our  regiment  after  we  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  hills 
on  which  the  forts  of  Blakely  were.  The  Colonel  had  given 
special  instructions  to  every  one  of  the  captains  as  to  what 
point  they  were  to  go  for.  By  this  time  it  was  almost  five 
o'clock.  General  Canby  had  remained  in  the  works  and 
was  in  the  zig-zag  that  led  almost  to  the  very  centre  of  our 
regiment.  The  last  words  he  told  Colonel  Vifquain  were : 
'  Colonel,  stop  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  if  the  fire  is  too  mur 
derous.'  Vifquain  answered,  '  General,  there  is  no  stopping 
place  for  us  except  in  Blakely.'  He  had  studied  the 
ground  for  several  days,  and  knew  that  any  charge  or 
assault  from  the  place  where  we  were  must  be  made  to  a 


!$8  FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 

finish.  He  had  the  most  implicit  confidence  in  his  men, 
knowing  what  they  had  done  at  Vicksburg.  General  Canby 
then  said  :  *  Well,  go  ;  and  good  fortune  attend  you.'  Vif- 
quain  asked  him  what  time  it  was ;  General  Canby  replied 
it  was  five  o'clock  and  five  minutes.  The  Colonel  told  him 
that  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  our  flag  would  be  on  the 
rebel  works. 

"At  the  appointed  time,  I  saw  the  Colonel  jump  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  parapet ;  the  rebels  could  see  him  from  his 
knees  up.  He  quietly  drew  his  sword  and  allowed  the 
rebels  to  empty  their  rifles  at  him,  and  then  gave  the  word. 
Before  the  enemy  could  reload  their  guns  we  were  upon 
them  ;  rolling  down  the  hill  like  an  avalanche  and  up  the 
other  side  with  great  force.  Our  commander  made  for  the 
battle-flag  on  the  rebel  works,  with  the  color  company 
right  upon  his  heels  ;  and  while  he  cut  the  halliard  of  the 
rebel  flag  with  his  sword,  and  in  the  act  of  pulling  it  down, 
our  color-bearer  planted  our  flag ;  for  a  second  or  two  Vif- 
quain  was  hidden  by  the  folds  of  our  victorious  banner 
mingling  with  those  of  the  rebel  standard.  Our  color- 
bearer  was  killed  on  the  spot.  The  bayonet  finished  the 
work,  and  Blakely  was  ours  with  5000  prisoners  and  85 
pieces  of  heavy  artillery. 

"  The  same  night  our  regiment  slept  in  the  fort  where 
the    rebel    battle-flag   stood  in  the    morning,  and    General 
Canby  sent  Colonel  Vifquain  a  note  in  pencil,  which  read  as 
follows : 
"  '•Dear  Colonel: 

"  '  Thank  you,  and  may  God  bless  you  and  your  brave  boys. 

"'E.  R.  S.  CANBY, 

"<Mj.-Genl.  Comdg? 


TWO  HEROES.  {  ^ 

"  The  orderly  that  brought  the  note  was  killed  on  his 
way  back  by  a  torpedo.  Upon  General  Canby's  recom 
mendation  Colonel  Vifquain  was  breveted  Brigadier-Gen 
eral,  and  received  the  Medal  of  Honor. 

"ONE   OF  THE   NINETY-SEVENTH." 

"Captain  P.  H.  PENTZER,*  of  my  company,  'C,'  97th 
Illinois  Infantry,  also  won  the  medal.  He  was  command 
ing  the  extreme  right  of  our  skirmish  line,  and  finding  him 
self  inside  the  rebel  works  in  the  charge,  would  have  been 
captured  had  it  not  been  for  the  colored  troops,  who  at 
tacked  the  enemy  with  great  fury,  using  the  butts  of  their 
muskets.  About  this  time  the  captain  noticed  a  rebel 
soldier  waving  a  white  flag.  Approaching,  the  man  shouted 
that  the  general  wanted  to  surrender.  Captain  Pentzer 
was  then  conducted  to  the  headquarters  of  General  C—  — , 
who  in  person  surrendered  himself  and  headquarters'  flag. 
Captain  Pentzer  remained  in  charge  of  his  distinguished 
prisoner  for  several  days." 

PRIVATE   CALLAHAN  AT  BLAKELY. 

"  Well,  boys,  dunno  that  I  can  add  anything  to  what's 
been  said  about  the  Blakely  fight,  but  one  of  our  boys  got 
a  Medal  of  Honor  there,  too,"  said  the  old  Sergeant. 

"It  was  this  way:  My  regiment,  the  I22d  Illinois  In 
fantry,  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  forces  sur 
rounding  Blakely,  and  between  our  position  and  the  enemy 


*  Captain  P.  H.  PENTZER  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  H,  gth  Illinois  Volunteers  (three- 
months  men),  April,  1861.  Re-enlisted  for  three  years  July  15,  1862,  as  sergeant-major  gyth 
111.  Vol.  Infantry;  captain,  Feb.  14,  1863.  Served  at  Vicksburg  and  Department  of  the 
Gulf.  Mustered  out  July,  1865. 


r6o  FIGHTING  THE  BATTLE  O'ER  AGAIN. 

there  was  a  swamp,  in  addition  to  the  abatis  and  torpedoes 
you  all  have  been  describing.  Blakely,  you  will  recollect, 
is  on  high  ground,  about  eighty  rods  from  the  swamp. 
Going  on  the  skirmish  line  about  sundown,  I  and  Private  J. 
J.  CALLAHAN  (the  man  who  got  the  medal),  met  two  of  the 
rebels  between  the  hostile  skirmish  lines  and  had  a  friendly 
talk  for  about  half  an  hour.  The  rest  of  that  night  we 
stood  on  our  feet  with  a  sharp  lookout  to  see  if  the  rebels 
were  going  to  make  any  move.  Being  relieved  about  sun 
rise  on  the  Qth,  we  returned  to  the  reserve,  and  'tried  to  get 
a  little  sleep.  At  noon  we  were  notified  that  the  fort 
would  be  assaulted  at  five  o'clock  P.M.  We  advanced  into 
the  swamp,  apparently  unnoticed  by  the  rebels,  but  as  we 
raised  out  of  the  swamp  it  seemed  as  though  the  infernal 
regions  had  opened  in  all  fury.  But  every  man  did  his 
duty;  we  carried  everything  before  us.  We  captured  the 
Confederate  general,  Liddell,  and  many  others.  General 
Liddell  had  a  demijohn  of  *  old  peach '  at  his  head 
quarters,  of  which  Callahan  and  I  had  a  taste.  Our  regi 
ment  also  captured  a  battery.  As  we  wheeled  to  the  left, 
on  the  inside  of  the  works,  Callahan  and  I  saw  the  rebel 
flag  defiantly  floating;  then  he  said  to  me,  '  That  flag  must 
come  down.'  Without  orders  we  made  a  dash  for  it.  Calla 
han  reached  the  spot  first,  and  seizing  the  colors,  demanded 
a  surrender.  The  color-bearer,  seeing  there  was  no  way  to 
escape,  reluctantly  gave  up  the  flag.  At  this  time  a  bat 
tery  of  two  guns,  just  to  the  right,  was  still  firing  at  us. 
Captain  Bostwick  of  our  company  said :  *  Boys,  we  want 
those  guns,'  and  with  a  cheer  we  charged,  capturing  the  bat 
tery  and  all  of  the  men  belonging  to  it.  Captain  Bostwick 


GENERAL  SCO TTS  A  UTOGRA2UI.  1 £ 1 

told  Callahan  to  get  on  one  of  the  guns  and  stay  there,  and 
he  did  so  until  the  guns  were  turned  over  to  the  proper 
officer.  From  Blakely  we  were  ordered  to  Montgomery, 
where  we  received  word  that  Lee  had  surrendered,  and  that 
Peace  was  made.  Every  man  was  almost  wild  with  joy  ; 
but  it  is  impossible  to  describe  the  shock  that  the  Army 
received  at  the  news  of  the  assassination*  of  Lincoln,  our 
beloved  President." 


*7 


il 


1 62 


CAPTAIN    HARVEY   MAY    MUNSELL, 

NINETY-NINTH      PENNSYLVANIA      INFANTRY. 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME* 

T  UST  twenty  years  after  the  Great  Conflict,  I  am  asked 

to  give  for  publication  my  recollections  of  service  as 

a  color-sergeant,  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.     It 

seems  as   if  the   subject   of  War  had  been  written   almost 

threadbare :    however,    I    will    describe   some    incidents   of 

my  soldiering  days. 

THE  TRIALS  OF  A  RECRUIT. 

I  was  born  at  Painted  Post,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  Jan 
uary  5,  1843.  My  ancestors,  on  my  father's  side,  are  traced 
to  Sir  Philip  de  M(a)unsell,  who  came  from  Normandy 
with  "William  the  Conqueror."  His  grandson,  Sir  John 
M(a)unsell,  was  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  England,  in  the  time 


*  Contributed  by  Captain  HARVEY  MAY  MUNSELL,  at  the  request  of  the  Editor. 

163 


164 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


of  Henry  III.  My  mother  was  a  May,  and  one  of  her 
ancestors  was  John  May,  Esq.,  who  came  to  America  in 
1640,  from  Mayfield,  a  town  in  the  county  of  Sussex,  Eng 
land. 

At  the  time  war  was  declared,  and  Fort  Sumter  fired 
upon,  in  the  Spring  of  1861,  I  had  charge,  for  an  uncle,*  of 
a  lumber  yard  at  Oil  City,  Pa.  Having  been  taught,  from 
a  boy  up,  that  Slavery  was  wrong,  President  Lincoln's  first 
call  for  75,000  three-months  volunteers  naturally  set  me  on 
fire,  as  it  did  almost  every  one  throughout  the  Northern 
States.  Oil  .City,  at  that  time,  was  in  the  backwoods  of 
Pennsylvania;  before  the  days  of  railroads  in  that  section. 
However,  the  people  were  intensely  patriotic,  and  joined 
me  in  purchasing  the  materials  for  an  immense  flag,  made 
by  the  ladies,  hoisted  to  the  top  of  a  tall  staff  made  of 
derrick  poles,  and  unfurled  to  the  breeze  amid  cheers  from 
thousands  of  voices. 

That  was  a  great  day  for  Oil  City,  and  the  flag  was  a 
gentle  reminder  to  all  able-bodied  men  to  fall  into  line  and 
march  off  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  That  flag 
did  good  service,  and  yet  when  the  people  of  that  region 
learn  for  the  first  time  that  the  flag  we  all  "  rallied  around  " 
in  1 86 1  was  as  much  like  a  rebel  flag  as  any  I  ever  saw, 
they  will  certainly  be  as  much  surprised  as  I  was  in  making 
the  discovery.  However,  such  was  the  fact,  and  I  have 
since  enjoyed  many  a  good  laugh  over  it. 

The  people  were  a  little  slow  in  Oil  City,  so  I  went  to 
Franklin,  seven  miles  distant,  hoping  to  join  a  company 
there,  but  was  too  late. 

*  Hamilton  Stow,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati. 


THE   TRIALS  OF  A  RECRUIT.  l^ 

Then  I  made  Pittsburg  my  objective  point.  Arrived 
there  one  day  too  late.  Sign  posted  up  at  all  recruiting 
stations,  "No  more  men  wanted!"  Saw  the  officers,  how 
ever,  and  plead  with  Jhem  to  "let  me  in,"  but  all  in  vain. 
Besides,  the  daily  papers  announced  to  the  public  that  the 
quota  of  75,000  men  under  the  President's  call  was  full, 
and  that  twice  as  many  more  had  offered  than  were  wanted. 

Just  then  my  eyes  fell  upon  a  recruiting  advertisement 
in  a  Philadelphia  newspaper.  I  opened  a  recruiting  office 
in  Pittsburg,  and  wrote,  published  and  distributed  several 
thousand  copies  of  the  most  patriotic,  "  soul-stirring " 
handbills  ever  flung  to  the  wind  in  that  ancient  and  honor 
able  town  ;  and  they  did  the  work,  for  in  less  than  thirty- 
six  hours  I  was  on  the  cars  with  twenty-seven  men,  tick 
eted  for  Philadelphia. 

Arriving  there,  all  the  men  breakfasted  at  my  expense, 
and  before  I  could  report  and  turn  them,  with  myself,  over 
to  our  French  colonel,  Romaine  Lujeane,  all  but  eleven 
deserted ;  and  by  evening  on  that  day  but  three  men 
remained.  The  colonel  ordered  me  back  to  Pittsburg 
that  night,  to  take  advantage  of  my  circulars:  result,  thirty 
more  recruits.  Took  them  to  Philadelphia,  where  all  but 
four  deserted. 

Those  patriots  simply  wanted  free  transportation,  and 
they  got  it  ;  but  the  seven  who  remained  with  me  were 
seven  of  the  best  boys, — honest,  true,  brave,  soldier  boys, — 
in  the  United  States  Army.  The  fact  is,  I  was  only  a  boy 
myself,  just  past  eighteen,  and  weighed  less  than  a  hun 
dred  pounds ;  but  taken  with  the  other  seven  (who  were 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

about  my  age  and  weight),  I   felt   like   a  giant,  because  I 
could  now  call  myself  one.  or  eight  at  pleasure. 

From  that  time  forward,  I  stood  before  the  country  in 
the  ratio  of  one  to  seven,  or,  as  seven  to  one  ;  and  it  cost 
me  in  shining  gold  just  $65.25  to  reach  those  proportions, 
as  per  following  detailed  statement : 

When  I  first  arrived  in  Pittsburg  I  had  just $75.00 

2  days'  board  in  that  city, $3.00 

Incidentals 2.50 

5000  handbills 15.00 

Transportation  for  28  men  to  Philadelphia  (paid  by  Government)  oo.oo 

Loaned  to  a  recruit  (afterwards  deserted) 25.00 

Breakfast  for  28  men  in  Philadelphia 7.00  52.50 


Total  cost  of  first  invoice $52.50                 22.50 

My  return  trip  to  Pittsburg  cost  : 

i  day's  board 1.50 

Incidentals  , 2.50 

Transportation  for  32  men  (paid  by  Government) oo.oo 

Breakfast  in  Philadelphia  for  32  men 8.00 

Loaned  recruit .75                  12.75 

Total  cost  of  second  invoice $12.75                 $9-75 

Add  cost  of  first  invoice 52.50 


Aggregate  expense $65.25 

and  for  that,  we  had  eight  recruits  and  $9.75  left. 

In  round  numbers  each  recruit  cost  just  $8.15. 

The  Colonel  was  several  weeks  in  filling  his  regiment, 
so  it  was  among  the  first  ready  for  service  after  President 
Lincoln  made  his  first  call  for  three-years  men.  The 
Colonel  offered  to  promote  me  to  a  lieutenant,  but  I  bash 
fully  declined  the  honor,  for  I  knew  nothing  about  military 
tactics.  Was  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  Volunteer  Service, 
with  my  seven  "  good  and  true"  recruits,  July  26,  1861, 
we  being  the  youngest,  smallest,  scrawniest-looking  "high 
privates  in  the  rear  rank,"  of  any  in  the  32d  Regiment 
(afterwards  re-numbered  the  99th)  Pennsylvania  Volun- 


"JOHN  BARLE  YCORNr  ,  5  - 

tcers.     We  were  at  first  looked  upon  by  everybody  in  the 
regiment,  except  the  Colonel,  as  of  no  earthly  value. 

The  regiment  was  disciplined  and  sent  to  the  front,  but 
it  took  some  time  to  get  there.  While  on  the  route,  it 
garrisoned,  for  a  few  days,  Fort  Davis,  one  of  the  chain  oi 
forts  surrounding  Washington,  and  located  about  two 
miles  from  the  south  side  of  the  Anacostia  River,  com 
monly  known  as  the  Eastern  Branch  of  the  Potomac. 
While  there  I  was  promoted  corporal,  and  a  few  days  later 
it  was  my  misfortune  to  fight  my  first  battle  with  an  enemy 
not  on  the  programme. 

It  was  brought  about  in  this  way  :  A  day  or  two  pre 
vious,  a  very  estimable  young  man  by  the  name  of  Griffith 
in  my  company,  "  C,"  was  taken  with  a  cramp  and  drowned 
while  he  and  the  other  members  of  the  company  were  out 
bathing  in  the  river.  Griffith  ventured  out  too  far,  in  very 
deep  water.  His  body  sank,  and  remained  at  the  bottom 
of  the  river. 

A  detachment  of  men  from  Company  C  was  at  once 
despatched  to  the  Navy  Yard,  with  orders  to  secure  a  gun 
boat  or  a  heavy  piece  of  ordnance  on  a  barge,  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  proceed  to  the  spot  in  the  river  where  the 
soldier  went  down,  firing  the  cannon  over  the  body  until 
it  rose  to  the  surface.  It  was  a  tedious  undertaking,  so 
the  men  were  worked  by  reliefs,  changing  every  two  hours. 
I  was  one,  and  just  after  I  had  been  relieved,  about  eleven 
o'clock,  one  of  the  darkest  nights  I  ever  saw,  a  sergeant  in 

my  company,  by  the  name  of  G—     -   R ,   and   myself 

started   for  the  fort.     There    were    two    or    three  ways    of 
going,  but,  as   it   was   so  very  dark,  we  concluded  to  take 


jgg  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

the  public  highway.  Sergeant  R had  been  drinking 

just  enough  to  make  him  boisterous  when  we  started,  but 
before  we  had  travelled  half  a  mile  he  became  morose  and 
ugly.  We  lost  our  way  in  the  dark,  at  a  place  where  sev 
eral  roads  branched  off.  While  slowly  feeling  our  way  in 
the  dark,  a  horse  and  wagon  came  along,  going  in  the  same 
direction.  The  Sergeant  wanted  to  ride,  and  made  known 
his  wants  in  the  most  vigorous  manner  possible.  He  yelled 
so  loud  that  the  horse  and  driver  were  alarmed,  and  in  a 
moment  were  out  of  hearing.  Then  the  Sergeant  became 
very  angry  and  laid  down  in  the  woods,  declaring  he  would 
not  move  another  inch. 

Supposing  we  were  near  our  camp  I  travelled  on,  leaving 
him  to  follow  at  leisure.  Within  five  minutes  I  heard  a 
wagon,  and  saw  a  light  in  the  road  coming  toward  me  at  a 
rapid  rate.  It  proved  to  be  the  same  wagon  that  passed 
us,  but  this  time  it  was  crowded  with  soldiers,  and  each  sol 
dier  had  a  loaded  rifle,  and  each  rifle  had  a  fixed  bayonet. 
In  the  next  instant  the  wagon  stopped,  and  the  sergeant 
in  charge  called  out,  "  Who  comes  there?"  I  replied, 
"  Friend  with  the  countersign,"  and  as  1  was  advancing  to 
give  it,  down  came  every  rifle,  with  the  muzzle  pointing  at 
me,  and  with  the  same  movement,  click,  click,  I  heard  the 
double  action  of  the  locks,  as  they  cocked  their  pieces. 

Could  there  be  anything  more  dreadful  than  to  be 
unwittingly  placed  in  such  a  position  on  a  lonely  road  in 
the  woods,  in  the  middle  of  the  darkest  night,  unarmed 
and  alone  in  a  strange  country?  All  the  battles  I  after 
ward  saw,  rolled  into  one,  could  not  equal  the  terror  of  that 
supreme  moment — just  before  they  came  to  my  relief,  by 


"A  BRACE  OF  BRIGANDS."  l69 

dragging  me  into  the  vehicle  with  them.  They  turned 
the  horse  and  wagon  around,  and  drove  off  at  break-neck 
speed,  finally  landing  me  in  the  guard-house  of  an  unknown 
regiment. 

Well,  it  was  another  relief  to  get  there,  although  their 
treatment  of  me  had  not  improved,  for  they  handcuffed, 
shackled  and  tied  me  down.  While  one  party  was  doing 
that  another  had  driven  away  for  the  Sergeant,  who,  when 
found,  was  treated  in  like  fashion.  We  had  the  guard 
house,  a  large  wall  tent,  all  to  ourselves;  but  it  was  doubly 
guarded  by  extra  men,  detailed  for  that  purpose. 

About  daybreak,  the  following  morning,  I  learned  "  con 
fidentially"  from  the  Officer  of  the  Guard  that  the  vehicle 
passing  us  on  the  road,  and  about  which  the  Sergeant  made 
such  a  row,  was  returning  from  Washington  with  the  regi 
mental  mail.  Frightened  half  out  of  his  wits,  in  that 
lonely  spot  at  the  dead  of  night,  by  the  sergeant's  intem 
perate  yells,  the  young  man  drove  into  camp,  rousing  the 
whole  regiment,  exclaiming  at  the  top  of  his  voice  that 
he  had  been  attacked  by  two  highwaymen. 

Sergeant  R—  -  had  commenced  to  sober  up,  and  I  shall 
never  forget  the  look  on  his  countenance  when  I  told  him 

o 

we  were  a  "brace  of  brigands,"  to  be  tried  by  "  drum-head 
court-martial"  at  nine  o'clock  that  morning,  to  be  con 
victed,  sentenced,  and  shot  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  of  that 
day.  He  believed  every  word  of  it,  and  well  he  might 
after  such  an  ordeal  as  we  had  gone  through  the  night 
previous.  I  wanted  him  to  believe  it,  up  to  the  very  last 
moment,  for  had  he  let  liquor  alone,  and  gone  along  about 
his  business,  he  would  not  have  dragged  us  into  that 


I/O 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


scrape.  The  Officer  of  the  Guard  secretly  furnished  me 
with  pencil,  paper  and  envelope,  that  I  might  communicate 
with  my  regiment.  I  wrote  a  letter  to  my  colonel,  explain 
ing  the  whole  thing,  and  the  Officer  of  the  Guard  sent  it 
over  to  him. 

About  nine  o'clock  that  morning  we  were  marched  out  in 
front  of  the  strange  regiment  (a  new  one),  lectured  by  its 
colonel,  and  then  asked  by  him  what  we  had  to  say  for  our 
selves.  I  looked  off  to  my  right,  about  that  time,  and  dis 
covered  my  company  (C)  marching  toward  us,  and  then  I 
respectfully  told  the  Colonel  "  nothing  we  could  say,  after 
such  treatment,  would  be  of  any  avail,  and  we  would  leave 
it  to  our  regiment  to  settle  with  him."  Just  then  the  officer 
in  charge  of  our  company  handed  the  Colonel  a  letter, 
demanding  our  immediate  and  unconditional  release.  We 
were  released,  there  and  then  ;  and  from  that  day  forward, 
as  long  as  those  two  regiments  remained  near  each  other, 
whenever  our  men  caught  any  of  the  others  outside  their 
camp,  I  regret  to  say,  terrible  battles  were  fought  on  our 
account. 

Sergeant  R —  -  was  never  seen  under  the  influence  of 
liquor  after  that.  He  was  an  honest  man  and  a  brave  sol 
dier,  and  was,  near  the  end  of  the  war,  a  lieutenant  in  that 
same  Company  C  when  I  became  its  captain.  Colonel 
Lujeane  and  my  captain  (William  J.  Uhler)  declared  I 
had  fought  my  first  battle  and  won  a  great  victory.  I 
thought  so  then,  and  I  think  so  now.  As  the'  result,  I  was 
promoted  to  sergeant.  Moral. — Never  be  caught  in  the 
company  of  a  drunken  man,  under  any  circumstances  what 
ever,  for  you  will  have  trouble  when  least  expected. 


A  FAMOUS  BADGE.  I7J 

"  THE  KEARNEY  PATCH." 

From  Fort  Davis  the  regiment  moved  to  Alexandria,  Va.; 
from  there  to  the  Peninsula,  under  General  McClcllan,  and 
afterward,  with  his  army,  we  moved  up  near  Manassas, 
under  General  Pope.  It  took  part  in  General  Pope's  event 
ful  campaign  of  1862,  including  Bull  Run  2d  and  Chantilly  ; 
the  latter  being  the  battle  in  which  our  brave  General 
Kearney  was  killed.  After  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  the 
Army  retired  to  the  "  Defences  of  Washington,"  General 
Birney  succeeding  to  General  Kearney's  command. 

General  Kearney,  before  his  death,  had  issued  an  order 
requiring  officers  and  men  under  his  command  to  wear  a 
badge  or  mark  by  which  they  would  be  always  known. 
The  badge  was  a  piece  of  scarlet  cloth,  worn  on  the  hat  or 
cap,  so  as  to  be  seen  at  all  times.  That  was  the  first 
attempt  to  designate  officers  and  men  in  our  army  by  any 
distinctive  mark.  It  proved  to  be  a  good  thing,  for  then 
we  could  always  tell  whether  our  men  lagged  on  the  march 
or  straggled  in  action. 

Soon  after  Kearney's  death,  General  Birney  issued  an 
appropriate  order,  and  in  it  spoke  of  the  piece  of  cloth  to 
be  worn  in  memory  of  the  dead  general.  The  scarlet  cloth 
referred  to  was  soon  cut  in  the  form  of  a  diamond,  and 
this  was  known  as  the  "  Kearney  Patch."  After  General 
Hooker  took  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in 
January,  1863,  he  wisely  issued  an  order  requiring  the  offi 
cers  and  men  of  each  corps  to  be  known  by  some  distinct 
ive  badge  or  mark  ;  the  1st  division  of  each  corps  wearing 
red,  the  2d,  white,  and  the  3d,  blue. 


Ij2  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

The  following  is  a  characteristic  order  issued  by  General 
Kearney  to  his  soldiers  : 

"  Brave  Regiments  of  the  Division  : — You  have  won  for  us  a  high  reputation; 
the  country  is  satisfied ;  your  friends  at  home  are  proud  of  you.  After  the 
battles  and  victories  purchased  with  much  blood,  you  may  be  counted  as  vet 
erans.  I  appeal  then  to  your  experience,  to  your  personal  observation,  to  your 
high  intelligence,  to  put  in  practice  on  the  battlefield  the  discipline  you  have 
acquired  in  camp.  It  will  enable  you  to  conquer  with  more  certainty  and  less 
loss. 

"  Shotdder-straps  and  Chevrons  !  You  are  marked  men ;  you  must  be  ever  in 
the  front. 

"  Colonels  and  Field  Officers  !  When  it  comes  to  the  bayonet,  lead  the  charge ; 
at  other  times  be  among  your  men  and  supervise.  Keep  officers  and  men  to 
their  constituted  commands  ;  stimulate  the  laggard  ;  brand  the  coward  ;  direct 
the  brave;  prevent  companies  from  '  huddling  up.' 

"Marksmen!  Never  in  the  fight  cheapen  your  rifles.  When  you  fire, 
make  sure  and  hit.  In  wood  or  abatis  one  man  in  three  is  to  fire,  the  others 
reserve  their  loads  to  repel  an  onset,  or  to  head  a  rush.  It  is  with  short 
rushes,  and  this  extra  fire  from  time  to  time,  such  ground  is  gained.  Each 
man  up  in  first  line  ;  none  delaying  ;  share  danger  alike ;  then  the  peril  and 
loss  will  be  small. 

"  Men  I  You  Brave  Soldiers  in  the  Ranks  !  whose  worth  and  daring  unknown, 
perhaps,  to  your  superiors,  but  recognized  by  your  comrades,  influence  more 
than  others,  I  know  that  you  exist.  I  have  watched  you  in  the  fire.  Your 
merit  is  sure  to  have  its  recompense  ;  your  comrades  at  the  bivouac  will  repeat 
your  deeds  ;  it  will  gladden  your  families,  and  in  the  end  will  be  brought  be 
fore  your  country. 

"  Color-bearers  of  Regiments  !  Bear  them  proudly  in  the  fight ;  erect  and  defi 
antly  in  the  first  line.  It  will  cast  terror  into  your  opponents  to  see  them  sus 
tained  and  carried  forward.  Let  them  be  the  beacon-light  of  every  regiment. 
The  noblest  inscription  on  your  banners  are  the  traces  of  the  balls. 

"  Again,  Noble  Division,  I  wish  you  success  and  more  victories  until,  the 
cause  of  our  sacred  Union  being  triumphant,  you  return,  honored,  to  your 
homes." 


"WHERE  THE  RED   VOLLEYS  POURED. 


KEARNEY  AT  SEVEN  PINES  * 
I. 

So  that  soldierly  legend  is  still  on  its  journey, — 

That  story  of  Kearney,  who  knew  not  to  yield  ! 
'Twas  the  day  when  with  Jameson,  fierce  Berry  and  Birney, 

Against  twenty  thousand  he  rallied  the  field. 
Where  the  red  volleys  poured,  where  the  clamor  rose  highest, 

Where  the  dead  lay  in  clumps  through  the  dwarf  oak  and  pine, 
Where  the  aim  from  the  thicket  was  surest  and  nighest, — 

No  charge  like  Phil  Kearney's  along  the  whole  line. 

II. 

When  the  battle  went  ill,  and  the  bravest  were  solemn, 

Near  the  dark  Seven  Pines,  where  we  still  held  our  ground, 
He  rode  down  the  length  of  the  withering  column, 

And  his  heart  at  our  war-cry  leaped  up  with  a  bound  : 
He  snuffed,  like  his  charger,  the  wind  of  the  powder, — 

His  sword  waved  us  on,  and  we  answered  the  sign ; 
Loud  our  cheer  as  we  rushed ;  but  his  laugh  rang  the  louder, 

'  There's  the  devil's  own  fun,  boys,  along  the  whole  line.' 

III. 

How  he  strode  his  brown  steed !     How  we  saw  his  blade  brighten 

In  the  one  hand  still  left — and  the  reins  in  his  teeth  ! 
He  laughed  like  a  boy  when  the  holidays  heighten, 

But  a  soldier's  glance  shot  from  his  vision  beneath. 
Up  came  the  reserves  to  the  melee  infernal, 

Asking  where  to  go  in — through  the  clearing  or  pine  ? 
*  O,  anywhere  !     Forward  !     'Tis  all  the  same,  Colonel : 

You'll  find  lovely  fighting  along  the  whole  line.' 

IV. 

"  O,  evil  the  black  shroud  of  night  at  C  handily, 

That  hid  him  from  sight  of  his  brave  men  and  tried ! 

*  E.  C.  Stedman,  in  Scribner1  s  Magazine. 


^4  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

Foul,  foul  sped  the  bullet  that  clipped  the  white  lily, 
The  flower  of  our  knighthood,  the  whole  army's  pride  ! 

Yet  we  dream  that  he  still,  in  that  shadowy  region, 

Where  the  dead  form  their  ranks  at  the  wan  drummer's  sign, — 

Rides  on,  as  of  old,  down  the  length  of  his  legion, 
And  the  word  still  is,  '  Forward  ! '  along  the  whole  line." 

OUR  BATTLE-FLAG  AT  FREDERICKSBURG. 

It  was  a  long  step  from  Chantilly  to  Fredericksburg,  but 
it  was  successfully  made,  overriding  all  sorts  of  obstacles, 
marching  and  counter-marching,  fighting  in  a  small  way, 
called  by  some  "  skirmishing,"  and  by  others  magnified  into 
regular  battles  ;  and  battles  they  were  to  those  who  hap- 
•  pened  to  meet  with  a  stray  bullet  while  doing  picket  duty. 
Little  does  it  matter  to  the  poor  soldier  who  has  been  shot 
to  death  while  fighting  where  a  hundred  thousand  were 
engaged,  or  where  he  was  the  only  one  out  of  a  hundred 
thousand  who  fought  and  fell.  That  was  his  greatest  bat 
tle,  and  if  we  could  compile  the  thousands  of  cases  of  that 
description  in  both  armies,  what  a  record  it  would  make ! 
Then  it  is  so  much  easier  to  speak  of  thousands  having  been 
killed  in  a  certain  battle,  than  to  speak  of  only  one  in  some 
other  battle. 

Here  we  are  at  Fredericksburg,  where  one  of  the  greatest 
battles  of  the  War  for  the  Union  was  fought,  and  although 
nearly  twenty-four  years  since,  it  makes  me  shudder  to  look 
back  at  that  dreadful  field  as  I  saw  it  December  13,  1862. 
Thousands  upon  thousands  fought  their  "  last  and  greatest 
battle  "  there,  and  that  my  last  was  not  fought  then  and 
there  was  certainly  a  miracle.  And  I  will  tell  you  why  :  I 
was  color-bearer  of  my  regiment,  and  the  regiment  was  in 


FREDERICKSB  URG.  l^ 

the  very  thickest  of  the  fight,  doing  treble  duty.  First,  it 
was  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  division,  supporting  about 
thirty  pieces  of  cannon  the  enemy  wanted  to  capture. 
Second,  we  were  also  held  there  in  reserve  to  support  Gen 
eral  Meade  and  his  brave  Pennsylvanians,  who  were  away 
ahead  in  our  front,  in  plain  sight,  grappling  with  the  enemy. 
Third,  our  regiment  opened  ranks  in  the  face  of  a  victori 
ous  foe  to  let  General  Meade's  decimated  regiments  pass  to 
the  rear,  after  they  had  exhausted  their  ammunition,  and 
were  compelled  to  retire  in  confusion.  Then,  closing  our 
ranks,  we  made  a  dashing  bayonet  charge,  driving  back  a 
Georgia  brigade  which  tried  to  capture  our  artillery. 

It  was  a  sight  long  to  be  remembered  in  its  terrible 
grandeur ;  and  all  happened  quicker  than  I  can  write  it. 
The  brave  Georgians  wanted  our  artillery,  which  was  pour 
ing  grape  and  canister  into  their  ranks  at  a  fearful  rate, 
but  in  order  to  get  it  they  had  to  mow  down  the  9Qth 
Pennsylvania.  The  Southerners  came  down  upon  us  diag 
onally,  on  the  double-quick.  Our  soldiers  reserved  their 
fire  until  the  enemy  was  within  about  three  hundred  feet, 
and  then  gave  them  a  galling  reception,  making  them  halt, 
when  they  in  turn  commenced  pouring  a  heavy  shower  of 
bullets  into  our  ranks,  from  the  right  of  the  regiment  up  to 
its  centre,  at  the  flag. 

I  had  the  colors,  and  when  I  looked  down  the  ranks  at 
my  right  and  saw  them  melting  away  like  ice  under  an 
August  sun,  and  heard  bullets  humming  about  my  ears  like 
bees  in  a  swarm,  I  concluded  whatever  was  done  must  be 
done  quickly;  for  if  the  enemy  ever  captured  our  artillery, 
or  got  in  our  rear  among  the  ambulances,  baggage-wagons, 


176 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR   TIME. 


and  ponton  bridges,  the  result  might  be  serious ;  so  I 
instantly  started  toward  the  Georgians  on  a  run,  with  the 
flag,  and  beckoned  our  men  to  follow.  They  were  found 
equal  to  the  occasion,  and  did  follow  with  a  cheer,  on  an 
extra  double-quick.  All  in  our  regiment  who  were  not 
killed  or  wounded  by  the  terrible  musketry  fire,  all  of  Gen 
eral  Meade's  men  who  had  recuperated  from  the  panic,  and 
all  stragglers  and  "  coffee-coolers,"  caught  the  inspiration, 
fell  into  line  and  helped  drive  the  Georgians  from  the  field 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  capturing  many  prisoners. 
Both  the  flag  and  my  clothes  were  riddled  with  bullets,  but 
I  did  not  receive  a  scratch.  It  was  said  the  enemy  made 
the  same  desperate  attempt  to  break  through  our  lines, 
along  the  entire  front  of  our  division,  all  at  the  same  time 
and  were  everywhere  repulsed,  with  great  loss.  However, 
subsequent  events  proved  that  the  QQth  received  more 
than  its  share  of  the  work  on  that  day,  because  the  object 
ive  point  of  the  enemy  was  our  artillery. 

The  "  regimental  poet,"  Mr.  George  Flower,  composed 
some  verses  about  the  battle,  while  we  were  lying  on  the 
ground  in  the  front  line  nearest  the  enemy,"  during  the  next 
two  days,  and  they  will  come  in  very  appropriately  now, 
years  after  that  desperate  struggle,  showing  its  fierceness 
and  naming  some  of  the  actors. 

SONG  OF  THE  NINETY-NINTH  PENNSYLVANIA. 

(Composed  on  the  battlefield.} 

At  Fredericksburg,  the  99th  their  battle-banner  bore 
Two  days  and  nights  in  foremost  rank,  despite  the  cannon's  roar; 
The  bursting  shells,  the  whistling  balls,  the  grape's  destructive  hail, 
To  move  that  living  wall  are  sent,  but  all  are  doomed  to  fail. 


SOA'G  OF  THE  NINETY-NINTH, 

They  are  hardy  as  the  granite,  and  they've  got  a  wondrous  knack, 
When  face  to  face,  to  give  the  foe  good  cause  to  turn  his  back  ; 
Swift  and  steady  on  the  march,  firm  and  gallant  in  the  fight, 
They  drove  the  best  brigade  of  Georgia  clear,  clean,  out  of  sight. 

Our  colonel,  wounded^  left  the  field,  and  many  captains,  too, 
When  gallant  BILES  assumed  command,  none  braver  or  more  true- 
He  cheered  us  on  so  heartily,  himself  so  cool  and  steady, 
That  to  follow  in  his  glorious  path  all  hands  and  hearts  were  ready. 

Upon  that  bloody  battlefield  for  fourteen  hours  or  more 
We  stood,  our  comrades  from  their  wounds  their  ebbing  life-blood  pour. 
The  young  and  gallant  SETLEY,  as  his  bright  sword  waved  on  high, 
Cried,  "  On,  boys !  for  our  country,  let  us  bravely  fight  or  die  I  " 

The  colors  of  our  glorious  State,  that  CURTIN  gave  in  trust, 
Were  borne  aloft  by  MUNSELL,  and  will  never  kiss  the  dust ; 
While  his  heart  with  life  is  beating  he  will  nobly  lead  the  way, 
With  our  banner  proudly  waving,  as  it  did  upon  that  day. 

******** 

Three  cheers  for  WARD  with  hearty  zeal,  three  cheers  for  BIRNEY  too, 
Who  praised  us  on  the  battlefield,  the  enemy  in  view, 
A  sigh  and  tear  is  all  we  can,  as  sorrow's  tribute,  pay 
To  dear  departed  KEARNEY,  ever  foremost  in  the  fray. 

******** 
Chorus:  Come  along  !  push  along  !  By  our  bay'nets' sparkling  gleam 

We'll  prove  the  rebel  power  but  a  false  and  idle  dream. 

General  Lee,  in  his  report  of  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  says  that  at  no  part  of  his  line  were  his  men  driven 
from  the  ground  they  had  captured  from  our  troops  except 
at  the  point  where  Birney's  Division  drove  back  Early's 
Division  of  Ewell's  Corps.  As  the  QQth  Pa.  was  in  and  on 
the  extreme  right  of  Birney's  Division,  it  held  the  post  of 
honor,  and  had  the  honor  of  clearing  the  enemy  from  that 
part  of  the  field,  as  already  stated  by  me. 

12 


j^8  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

MEMORIES  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

The  next  great  battle  was  fought  at  Chancellorsville, 
Va.,  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  May  2d  and  3d,  1863,  and 
it  was  the  only  battle  during  the  war,  in  which  I  took  part, 
where  the  carnage  on  both  sides  was  so  great,  and  the 
blood  flowed  so  freely  down  the  hard-trodden,  sloping  sides 
of  a  ravine,  that  a  little  brook,  dividing  the  Union  and  Con 
federate  forces  at  the  point  where  our  division  was  engaged, 
actually  ran  red  with  blood  ! 

"At  midnight  of  Saturday,  May  2,  General  Birney  re- 
ceived  an  order  from  General  Sickles  to  make  the  necessary 
dispositions  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  woods  in  his 
front,  and  retake  the  plank-road  and  earthworks  near  it. 
Ward's  Brigade  (in  which  was  the  99th  Pa.  Vols.)  was 
placed  in  advance.  Slowly  and  cautiously  the  men  moved 
along  this  road  at  midnight.  No  officer  uttered  words  of 
encouragement ;  no  drum  beat ;  no  colors  waved  ;  no  cheer 
rose  from  the  ranks.  The  pale  light  of  the  moon,  beam 
ing  at  intervals  from  between  the  clouds,  increased  the 
effect  of  the  scene,  and  photographed  it  upon  the  memories 
of  those  who  beheld  it,  in  characters  never  to  be  forgotten. 
Add  to  this  the  flash  of  the  guns  from  the  batteries  sta 
tioned  in  the  rear  of  the  line,  which  in  the  early  part  of  the 
evening  concentrated  their  fire  upon  a  point  on  the  plank- 
road,  to  deceive  the  enemy  as  to  the  real  character  of  the 
movement.  As  the  batteries  belched  forth  their  flames 
and  lighted  up  the  landscape  with  a  death-like  hue,  which 
the  flash  of  powder  at  night  always  imparts  to  surround 
ing  objects,  the  scene  was  grand  beyond  description.  At 


CHANCELLORSVILLE  MEMORIES.  1  ~g 

a  given  signal,  the  fire  of  the  batteries  ceased,  the  men 
rushed  forward  upon  the  intrenchments,  and  their  object 
was  accomplished.  The  enemy  abandoned  the  position 
without  a  struggle,  and  soldiers  and  officers  rested  upon 
their  arms  until  daylight."  * 

General  Jackson  was  in  command  of  the  line  in  Birney's 
front  on  Saturday  night,  May  2,  1863,  and  he  was  un 
doubtedly  wounded  in  front  of  Ward's  Brigade  in  the  great 
midnight  charge  already  described. 

When  General  Lee  first  heard  that  Jackson  had  been 
wounded,  he  exclaimed  :  "  Thank  God,  it  is  no  worse ! 
God  be  praised  that  he  is  still  alive  !  Any  victory  is  a  dear 
one  that  deprives  us  of  the  services  of  Jackson  for  a  short 
time  ! " 

About  5  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  May  3,  1863,  the  rebels 
in  turn  attacked  our  division,  and  then  commenced  the 
terrible  destruction  on  the  hill-side  and  in  the  ravine  al 
ready  mentioned  by  me.  One  correspondent  wrote  up  the 
awful  reality  as  follows,  and  when  speaking  of  the  enemy, 
said :  "  It  seemed  as  if  they  were  a  dense  mob,  those  in  the 
rear  being  ignorant  of  the  carnage  going  on  in  front,  and 
crowded  their  companions  on  to  sure  destruction.  They 
appeared  in  front  of  our  lines  for  at  least  a  mile,  along  the 
front  of  the  entire  Third  and  Second  Corps,  coming  up  in 
dense  masses,  climbing  over  the  heaps  of  the  fallen,  firing 
heavy  volleys,  and  going  down  among  the  slain  as  the 
response  broke  from  our  ranks.  It  was  frightful  to  con 
template,  the  slaughter  to  which  these  men  were  forced. 

*  New  York  Herald,  May  7.  1863. 


i8o 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


Whole  brigades  were  swept  away  in  the  determined  effort 
to  force  our  lines,  and  still  other  brigades  sprang  up  to  take 
their  places." 

And  so  the  battle  continued,  from  five  o'clock  that  beau 
tiful  Sunday  morning  until  after  eleven   on  that  day.       If 


OBVERSE. 


REVERSE. 


there  was  ever  a  place  on  earth  that  could  be  consistently 
called  a  human  slaughter-pen,  that  ravine  and  the  sloping 
land  on  either  side  of  it  was  the  place.  Nothing  that  I 
ever  saw  before  or  since  could  equal  it.  Within  a  radius 
of  a  mile  or  so,  more  than  twenty  thousand  men  were  killed 
or  wounded  on  that  fatal  Sunday  morning. 


THE  DIVISION  DECORA  7Y6W.  1 3  r 


THE   KEARNEY   CROSS. 

Soon  after  the  great  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  on  May 
27,  1863,  General  Birney  presented  a  few  of  his  soldiers 
with  the  Cross  of  Honor,  called  "The  Kearney  Cross," 
as  follows : 

********* 

"The  Brigadier-General  Commanding  Division  announces  the  following 
names  of  meritorious  and  distinguished  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri 
vates,  selected  for  their  gallantry,  as  recipients  of  the  *  Kearney  Cross,'  the 
division  decoration. 

"  Many  deserving  soldiers  may  have  escaped  the  notice  of  their  commanding 
officers,  but  in  the  selection  after  the  next  battle  they  will  doubtless  receive 
this  honorable  distinction. 

"  This  cross  is  in  honor  of  our  old  leader,  and  the  wearers  of  it  will  always 
remember  his  high  standard  of  a  true  and  brave  soldier,  and  will  never  dis. 
grace  it. 

********* 

"  Sergeant  HARVEY  M.  MUNSELL,  Company  C,  99th  Penn.  Volunteers. 
********* 

"  An  official  copy  of  this  order  will  be  given  to  each  soldier  entitled  to  wear 
the  cross.  D.  B.  BIRNEY, 

" Brig.-Gen.  Vols.,  Commanding  Division" 

The  following  order  was  also  issued  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  FIRST  DIVISION,  THIRD  CORPS, 
"  General  Orders,  51.  May  26,  1863. 

"  The  division  will  be  paraded  to-morrow  for  the  presentation  of  the  medals 
at  three  o'clock  P.M.  A  staff  officer  from  each  brigade  will  report  at  these 
headquarters  at  half-past  two  o'clock  P.M.,  for  instructions  as  to  the  ground. 
Every  available  man  will  be  turned  out,  and  particular  attention  will  be  paid 
to  dress  and  accoutrements  of  the  troops.  The  brigade  band  of  First  Brigade 
will  be  present,  and  report  at  two  o'clock  to  Captain  Briscoe,  Acting-Assistant 
Adjutant-General.  The  drum  corps  of  brigades  will  be  consolidated. 

"  By  command  of  Major-General  BIRNEY,  etc.,  etc." 


!g2          WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

The  occasion  drew  together  a  large  assemblage  of  soldiers 
and  civilians,  in  addition  to  the  regular  force  of  the  divis 
ion  and  the  distinguished  officers  present  by  particular 
invitation. 

The  First  Division,  to  members  of  which,  only,  the  medals 
were  awarded,  was  drawn  up  in  hollow  square  on  a  beauti 
ful  meadow  in  the  valley  of  the  Potomac  Creek.  The 
distinguished  officers  present  occupied  the  centre  of  the 
square. 

When  Major-General  Sickles  rode  into  the  square,  the 
whole  assemblage  of  soldiers  broke  out  in  the  wildest  cheer 
ing.  An  attempt  was  made  at  "  three  times  three,"  but 
the  response  was  more  like  nine  times  nine.  It  was  a  con 
tinuous  roar  for  several  minutes. 

As  soon  as  the  party  were  all  present,  the  several  brigade 
commanders  were  directed  to  call  the  Roll  of  Honor  of 
their  several  commands,  and  the  parties  designated  in  the 
above  order  stepped  to  the  front.  They  were  quickly 
formed  in  three  ranks,  by  brigades,  the  representatives  of 
each  regiment  carrying  the  regimental  colors,  and  the 
brigade  colors  being  placed  in  front  of  each  rank. 

At  the  request  of  General  Birney,  General  Sickles  made 
the  presentation  address.  He  spoke  as  follows  : 

"  SOLDIERS  : — Your  general  of  division  has  confided  to  me  the  most  pleas 
ing  of  duties — the  decoration  of  brave  men  with  Medals  of  Honor.  These  med 
als  are  the  gift  of  your  fellow  countrymen  ;  they  are  such  tokens  of  appreciation 
as  a  martial  people  should  bring  to  the  camp  of  their  defenders.  You  have 
earned  these  proud  emblems  of  constancy  and  valor — more  precious  than  riches, 
more  honorable  than  office  ; — they  are  legacies  for  your  kindred,  which  neither 
time  nor  change  can  impair.  You  are  Volunteers,  the  noblest  type  of  an  army. 
You  have  offered  your  lives  for  the  preservation  of  a  Government — alone  among 


THE  SOLDIERS  OF  KEARNEY. 


183 


nations — of  which  it  has  been  gracefully  said  that  its  blessings,  like  the  dews 
of  heaven,  descend  alike  upon  all.  Your  power  is  in  your  bayonets.  Bayo 
nets  have  dethroned  kings,  created  nations,  opened  avenues  to  civilization  and 
religion.  The  sun  which  now  gilds  yours,  never  lighted  holier  paths  than  those 
you  follow  to  battle.  The  steel  which  destroys  the  enemies  of  a  good  cause 
is  consecrated.  It  is  this,  and  because  you  know  how  to  use  your  arms,  which 
makes  you  invincible.  On  the  day  after  the  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  April 
13,  1861,  I  had  the  honor  to  be  accepted  by  my  late  lamented  friend,  Colonel 
Vosburgh,  as  a  volunteer  in  the  ranks  of  the  Seventy-first  Regiment  of  New 
York  Militia.  Like  yourselves,  a  citizen  soldier,  my  military  services  began 
with  the  Rebellion  ;  and,  if  spared  so  long,  will  end  when  the  rebels  are  put 
down.  Peace,  while  the  Rebellion  breathes,  is  dishonor.  Never  since  Caesar 
led  his  legions  to  conquest ;  never  since  Rienzi,  last  of  the  tribunes,  fell  with 
the  last  fragments  of  the  Roman  Republic ;  not  in  the  armies  of  Napoleon, 
where  Marshals  rose  from  the  ranks ;  never  in  any  army,  has  promotion  so 
generally  and  so  surely  followed  merit  as  in  ours.  The  genius  which  chal 
lenges  victory,  even  from  adverse  fortune,  will,  sooner  or  later,  find  its  place 
at  the  head  of  the  column.  Let  your  motto  be  '  EXCELSIOR  '—the  emula 
tion  of  the  brave  for  the  commendation  of  the  good.  You  are  the  Soldiers  of 
Kearney — that  electric  commander,  disdaining  death,  whose  sword  yielded  at 
last  only  to  the  Supreme  Conqueror.  These  medals  bear  his  honored  name, 
and  his  cherished  image.  When  I  add  that  Birney  is  his  fit  successor,  and 
that  you  are  worthy  of  both,  I  hope  that  nothing  is  left  unsaid  which  the  occa 
sion  demands.  The  medals  will  now  be  delivered  to  commanding  officers  of 
regiments,  who  will  decorate  the  men  of  their  commands,  named  in  the  order." 

THE   NINETY-NINTH   AT   GETTYSBURG. 

Then  came  what  was  more  important  to  our  country  in 
its  results  than  the  battle  of  Waterloo  to  Europe,  viz.,  the 
great  battles  and  final  victory  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  fought 
July  ist,  2d  and  3d,  1863,  just  two  months,  to  a  day,  after 
Chancellorsville. 

The  movement  of  two  giant  armies  of  nearly  a  hundred 
thousand  each,  from  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville 
to  Gettysburg, — such  a  long  distance,  in  such  a  short  time, 


1 84 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


—was  looked  upon  by  everybody  as  one  of  the  most  stu 
pendous  undertakings  of  the  war.  Officers  and  men  in 
both  armies  had  been  schooled  for  that  contest.  All  vet 
erans  ;  and  all  used  to  the  familiar  "  zip  "  of  the  bullet  as 
it  passed  them  by.  Long  years  of  active  service  had  hard 
ened  them  against  the  sound  of  roaring  cannon,  screech 
ing  and  ricochet  shot,  and  bursting  shells  ;  hardened  and 
as  tough  as  Bessemer  steel ;  and  nothing  but  steel  and  cold 
lead  could  produce  an  impression  upon  a  solitary  man 
of  that  two  hundred  thousand  thoughtful  souls.  There 
they  were,  face  to  face,  in  battle  array.  Stripped  for  the 
contest,  armed  to  the  teeth,  waiting  the  signal  to  try  and 
annihilate  each  other.  Christians,  in  a  civilized  country, 
and  every  man  of  them  battling  for  what  he  thought  to  be 
right. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  be  one  of  that  mighty  host 
battling  for  the  Right — as  I  understood  it — that  Slavery 
was  wrong.  I  was  but  a  unit,  as  compared  to  that  great 
whole,  but  I  felt  strong. 

"  Only  a  Color-bearer," — but  that  old,  tattered,  bullet-rid 
dled  regimental  flag  appeared  to  be  nothing  more  than  a 
pipe-stem  in  my  hands  on  July  2,  1863,  the  day  the  great, 
seething,  roaring  whirlpool  of  the  battle  struck  my  grand 
old  regiment  a  regular  "  broadsider." 

It  came  about  in  this  way.  The  3d  Corps,  General 
Sickles',  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  line  in  the 
second  day's  battle.  Ward's  Brigade  occupied  the  extreme 
left  of  the  3d  Corps,  and  the  9Qth  Pa.  (my  regiment)  occu 
pied  the  extreme  left  of  Ward's  Brigade,  up  near  Big  Round 
Top,  in  front  of  Little  Round  Top,  at  the  Devil's  Den. 


THE  DEVIL'S  DEN." 


185 


Why  it  was  that  the  99th  had  the  post  of  honor,  as  it  were, 
again,  in  this  line,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  we  were  there,  occu 
pying  by  all  odds  one  of  the  most  important  positions  in 
either  army.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  historians  have  since 
declared  it  was  the  "  key  to  the  situation."  Twist  it  as 
they  tried,  the  rebels  always  got  a  double  twister  that 
hirled  them  back  instead. 


GETTYSBURG — "  DEVIL'S  DEN." 

Describing  it,  an  eye-witness  said : 

"  Silence,  deep,  awfully  impressive,  but  momentary,  was 
permitted,  as  if  by  magic,  to  dwell  upon  the  field.  Only 
the  groans,  unheard  before,  of  the  wounded  and  dying; 
only  a  murmur — a  morning  memory — of  the  breeze  through 
the  foliage ;  only  the  low  rattle  of  preparation  for  what 
was  to  come,  embroidered  this  blank  stillness.  Then,  as 
the  smoke  beyond  the  village  was  lightly  borne  toward  the 


1 86  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

eastward,  the  woods  on  the  left  were  seen  filled  with  dark 
masses  of  infantry,  three  columns  deep,  who  advanced  at  a 
quick  step.  Magnificent  !  Such  a  charge,  by  such  a  force, 
—fully  forty-five  thousand  men,  under  Hill  and  Longstreet, 
— even  though  it  threatened  to  pierce  and  annihilate  the 
3d  Corps  (the  one  the  QQth  was  in),  against  which  it  was 
directed,  drew  forth  cries  of  admiration  from  all  who  be 
held  it. 

"  The  rebels  came  on  furiously,  halting  at  intervals,  pour 
ing  volleys  that  struck  our  troops  down  in  scores." 

There,  on  "  our  left,"  stood  the  QQth,  as  firm  as  the  rocks 
beneath  their  feet ;  watching  and  waiting  for  the  avalanche 
of  maddened  men  bearing  down  upon  them, — a  cyclone  of 
thirty  thousand  of  Lee's  bravest  and  best,  sweeping  toward 
us,  with  loaded  guns  in  a  bayonet  charge. 

"Only  a  Color-bearer,"  but— Merciful  Heavens!  I  me 
chanically  prayed  as  I  never  prayed  before  nor  since.  My 
heart  was  in  my  mouth,  or  boots,  and  never  to  this  day  have 
I  been  able  to  tell  which.  My  teeth,  like  those  of  "poor 
old  Harry  Gill,  went  chatter,  chatter,  chatter  still  ;  "  and 
chatter  now  when  I  think  of  it.  Frightened  almost  to 
death,  and  not  a  soul  in  the  regiment  knew  it  but  myself. 
If  I  could  have  been  suddenly  transplanted,  or  could  have 
taken  on  the  garb  of  an  angel  and  heavenward  flown,  or 
gone  up  like  Elijah,  what  happiness  at  that  supreme  mo 
ment  in  which  I  was  living  two  hundred  thousand  lives 
every  second,  as  it  were,  and  when  I  would  have  sooner 
died  two  hundred  thousand  times  than  to  continue  in  the 
terrible  suspense  when  seconds  seemed  hours. 


HIS  SA  TA NIC  MAJES  TY  'S  ' 'DEN."  !  g 7 

LOCKING  OUT  THE  DEVIL. 

We  were  at  the  "  Devil's  Den,"  and  the  "  Den  "  was  locked, 
and  the  99th,  as  I  said  before,  held  the  "  key."  Only  a  hand 
ful  of  men  to  arrest  and  keep  at  bay  "  His  Satanic  Majesty  " 
and  thirty  thousand  others,  trying  to  get  in.  The  members* 
of  the  QQth,  every  man  of  them,  looked  like  ghosts,  and  it 
was  not  until  after  I  made  that  discovery  that  I  came  to 
the  conclusion  they  thought  I  was  the  only  man  in  the  reg 
iment  not  frightened  half  out  of  his  senses.  Every  second 
brought  the  advancing  host  nearer  to  us,  and  every  second 
they  remained  in  the  distance  counted  thousands  of  men  in 
our  favor,  for  every  one  of  us  was  quadrupling  himself  for 
the  herculean  struggle  near  at  hand.  The  regiment  ap 
peared  to  be  elastic,  able  to  contract  and  expand  to  any 
length  and  breadth  at  will. 

I  had  the  flag  unfurled  to  the  breeze  in  the  front  as  in 
former  battles,  and  every  man  looked  to  me  and  the  flag  as 
a  guide,  and  I  knew  it,  but  they  did  not  know  I  did. 

They  had  the  guns,  the  bayonets,  the  bullets,  the  pluck, 
the  courage;  and  we  all  felt  safe  in  each  other's  hands. 
Not  a  solitary  man  of  that  little  band,  even  for  a  mo 
ment,  thought  of  being  driven  from  "  the  Key." 

We  were  the  "Davids,"  and  on  came  the  "  Goliaths  "  to 
their  destruction.  Our  little  "  slings  "  did  it.  Column  after 
column  of  the  "  flower,"  as  Lee  was  pleased  to  call  those  of 
his  army,  was  thrown  against  us,  and  for  one  hour  and 
thirty-eight  minutes  we  were  kept  busy  hurling  them  back. 

It  was  solemnly  said,  by  non-combatants  and  eye-wit 
nesses,  that  "  men  fell  as  the  leaves  fall  in  Autumn,  before 


jgg  WITH   THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

those  horrible  discharges."  "  Faltering  for  an  instant,  the 
rebel  columns  seemed  about  to  recede  before  the  tempest  ; 
but  their  officers,  who  could  be  seen  through  the  smoke  of 
the  conflict  galloping  and  swinging  their  swords  along  the 
lines,  rallied  them  anew,  and  the  whole  line  sprang  forward 
the  next  instant,  as  if  to  break  through  our  own  by  mere 
weight  of  numbers."  At  many  points  along  the  3d  Corps 
line  they  did  break  through,  but  never  for  an  instant  at 
"  the  key  "  ;  but  the  key  was  finally  flanked  and  had  to  be 
abandoned,  but  not  until  a  new  line  of  fresh  troops  had 
formed  at  the  hinges  of  the  door. 

"  Only  a  Color-bearer,"  with  colors  riddled,  and  eleven 
bullet-holes  in  my  clothes ;  but  the  worst  was  not  yet,  I 
had  survived  the  whirlwind,  had  looked  down  the  throats  of 
thousands  of  fiery  guns,  discharged  without  harm  to  my 
person,  and  now  that  we  were  compelled  to  go  away  from 
the  "  Den,"  out  of  that  Hades  of  fire,  and  save  ourselves 
and  the  flag  from  capture,  immediate  action  and  some 
engineering  was  required. 

I  had  a  color-guard  of  eight  corporals,  and  every  man 
was  killed  or  wounded.  The  rebels  were  pouring  into  our 
rear  in  vast  numbers  on  both  flanks.  General  Ward  or 
dered  our  regiment,  or  what  was  left  of  it,  to  fall  back  as 
quickly  as  possible.  It  got  a  good  start,  say  about  sixty 
feet,  before  I  commenced  to  fall  back,  because  I  misunder 
stood  the  order,  and  as  several  of  our  men  were  too  badly 
wounded  to  leave  the  field,  and  yet  able  to  load  and  fire  at 
the  enemy  from  where  they  fell,  the  thin  line  of  rebels  re 
maining  in  our  front,  naturally  thought  our  regiment  was 
lying  down  waiting  for  another  charge.  I  retreated  with 


ALL  BLOWN  TO  PIECES: 


189 


the  flag  a  few  hundred  yards  in  good  order,  but  shortly  a 
shell  came  whizzing  past,  then  another,  and  still  another, 
bursting  all  around  me.  One  struck  the  ground,  tearing  it 
up,  and  burst  right  at  my  feet. 

Stunned  by  the  concussion,  I  tumbled  into  the  depres 
sion  it  made,  and  many  of  our  men,  who  looked  back  and 
saw  me  fall,  reported  me  dead.  "  Munsell  all  blown  to  atoms 
by  a  shell,  and  the  flag  captured."  That  both  the  flag  and 
myself  were  not  captured  was  no  fault  of  mine,  for  there 
we  were  for  a  long  time,  "  playing  possum"  and  I  apparently 
dead  as  Julius  Caesar.  The  staff  laid  along  the  surface  of 
the  ground  in  my  front,  under  some  rocks  and  bushes;  the 
flag  under  my  body,  with  my  head  and  shoulders  down  in 
the  depression,  and  my  feet  and  legs  out,  as  a  wounded  or 
dead  man  would  naturally  lie,  stretched  at  full  length,  dur 
ing  a  battle  ;  for  the  fight  was  still  raging  on  both  flanks, 
and  the  rebels  were  working  a  battery  which  they  had  cap 
tured  at  the  "Den." 

I  was  surrounded  by  low  rocks  and  bushes,  as  well  as  by 
the  rebels,  and  I  dared  not  move  from  that  position  until  the 
coast  was  clear  to  the  rear ;  the  only  thing  I  feared  was  that 
a  Johnnie  might  come  along  and  try  his  bayonet  on  me  to 
see  if  I  was  really  dead. 

Just  about  that  time  the  6th  Corps  swept  down  toward 
and  past  me,  driving  every  "  Reb  "  before  it.  I  jumped 
up  and  "  skedaddled  "  to  the  rear,  where  my  regiment  had 
formed,  quietly  fell  into  line  and  unfurled  the  flag.  Such  a 
shouting  I  never  heard  before  or  since.  Men  who  saw  me 
fall,  "all  blown  to  pieces  with  a  shell,"  and  "the  flag  cap 
tured,"  came  and  looked  at  the  flag,  and  felt  of  me  to  see 


190 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


if  there  wasn't  some  mistake  or  humbug  about  it,  for  I  was 
already  booked  as  among  the  "  slain  in  battle."  I  saw 
more,  accomplished  more,  in  those  few  hours  than  during 
my  whole  life  before. 

I  quote  from  a  personal  letter  to  me  from  General  Daniel 
E.  Sickles,  dated  New  York,  Aug.  17,  1886. 

•K-  *  *          *          #          *  -x-  -x-  * 

"  The  99th  Penn.  Vol. — that  noble  regiment  that  stood 
the  brunt  of  battle  for  hours  in  the  '  Devil's  Den,'  cover 
ing  Round  Top,  the  key  of  the  Union  position,  while  Gen 
eral  Meade  was  sending  troops  to  hold  it." 

I  also  give  an  extract  from  the  report  of  the  commanding 
officer  of  my  regiment  and  brigade.* 

"  CAMP  IN  THE  FIELD  (NEAR  WARRENTON,  VA.), 

"July  27,  1863. 

"  Sir : — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  part  my  com 
mand  took  in  the  actions  before  Gettysburg  on  the  ist,  2d  and  3d  inst. 

#-*##*######## 
"  The  courageous  conduct  of  Color-Sergeant  HARVEY  M.  MUNSELL,  and  the 
manner  with  which  he  bore  the  regimental  colors  during  the  conflict,  has  in 
duced  me  to  make  special   mention  of  his  case,  as  one  worthy  of  the  most  de 
cided  approval. 

"  (Signed)    JOHN  W.  MOORE, 

"  Major  ComcVg 99^  Penn.  Vols" 

"  HDQRS.  2d  BRIG.,  ist  Div.,  3d  CORPS, 

"August  4,  1863. 

"  Captain  : — I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  a  report  of  the  action  and  move 
ments  of  my  brigade  on  July  ist,  2d,  3d  and  4th  : 


"It  would  afford  me  much  gratification  to  speak  of  others  in  the  terms  they 


*  From  the  advance  sheets  si  the  U.  S.  Records--"  War  of  the  Rebellion,"  Vol.  XV..  1880. 


HEROES  OF  THE  COLOR-GUARD.  JQJ 

deserve,  but  space  will  not  permit.  I  would  respectfully  refer  to  the  regimen 
tal  reports  for  a  detailed  statement  of  the  particular  deeds  of  many  other  gal 
lant  officers.  I  cannot  omit,  however,  the  names  of  a  few  gallant  non-commis 
sioned  officers,  viz.  .  .  .  Sergeant  H.  M.  MUNSELL,  99th  Pennsylvania  Volun 
teers,  .  .  .  who  by  their  bravery  and  example  inspired  all  in  their  vicinity.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  a  suitable  reward,  by  promotion  and  otherwise,  will  be 
awarded  these  splendid  soldiers. 

"  J.  H.  HOBART  WARD, 

"  Brigadier-General." 

It  is  proper  to  mention,  right  here,  three  incidents  in  con 
nection  with  our  color-guard  at  the  "  Den." 

HEROES  OF  THE  COLOR-GUARD. 

GEORGE  BROADBENT,  from  Lancaster  City,  Pa.  ;  young 
(about  1 8),  tall,  slim,  light  weight,  fair  complexion,  always 
kind  and  gentle,  and  nick-named  on  that  account,  "  The 
Lady"  ;  had  a  mess-mate  by  the  name  of  CHARLES  HERB- 
STER,  one  of  my  good  and  true  Pittsburg  recruits,  and 
both  were  color-corporals.  Each  had  a  "  presentiment,"  a 
few  hours  before  the  battle,  that  he  was  going  to  be 
killed  in  the  fight.  They  told  everybody  so,  and  made  all 
their  plans  to  die.  I  talked  with  them  about  the  matter, 
and  tried  to  ridicule  the  idea,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  My 
captain  wanted  to  detail  them  on  other  duty  till  after  the 
battle,  but  fight  they  would,  and  fight  they  did,  and  died 
as  heroes  there  at  the  "  Devil's  Den." 

"The  Lady"  had  fired  away  nearly  all  his  ammunition  at 
the  enemy  in  our  front,  and  had  just  asked  me  what  we 
would  do  after  our  last  cartridges  were  gone,  when  a  bullet 
from  the  enemy  struck  him  square  in  the  temple,  right  be 
fore  my  eyes,  killing  him  instantly.  He  fell  to  the  earth, 


IO/2  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

the  blood  spurting  out  of  the  bullet-hole  over  his  battle- 
begrimed  face. 

Charles  Herbster  saw  him  fall,  and  was  by  his  side  in  an 
instant,  took  out  his  handkerchief,  wiped  the  blood  from 
his  dead  comrade's  face,  kissed  him,  and  said,  "  Poor  Lady  is 
dead  !  "  On  his  knees,  behind  the  body,  Herbster  planted 
himself,  and  again  commenced  loading  and  firing  at  the 
enemy  in  close  company  with  GEORGE  SETLEY,  another 
one  of  my  color-guard,  from  Lancaster,  Pa. 

When  we  were  compelled  to  abandon  our  position  and 
go  to  the  rear,  I  tried  to  get  Herbster  and  Setley  to  go  with 
us,  as  they  were  the  only  two  of  the  color-guard,  out  of 
eight,  not  killed  or  wounded.  Nothing  could  move  them. 

There  they  were,  riveted  to  the  ground,  avenging  the 
lives  of  their  comrades,  and  there  we  left  them.  Setley 
was  frothing  at  the  mouth  with  excitement  and  anger,  and 
Herbster  taking  it  as  cool  as  a  cucumber.  Both  were  the 
best  shots  in  the  regiment,  and  both  had  done  great  execu 
tion.  The  next  day  we  found  Herbster's  body  lying  on 
top,  and  square  across  "the  Lady's,"  ano?  both  were  com 
pletely  riddled  with  bullets. 

Setley  had  been  wounded,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  sub 
sequently  died  in  captivity.  What  a  wreck ! — annihilation 
we  might  say.  Eight  boys  (they  were  nothing  else)  shot 
to  death  defending  the  Flag  of  their  Country  at  a  critical 
point,  at  a  critical  moment. 

Twenty-three  years  have  passed  since  that  terrible 
tragedy,  and  it  is  as  fresh  in  my  memory  to-day  as  if  but 
yesterday.  Heroes  they  were,  every  inch  of  them,  fighting, 
and  dying  martyrs  in  a  good  cause,  as  were  all  their  com 
rades  who  fought  and  died  on  that  bloody  field. 


MODERN  MARTYRS. 


On  the  2d  day  of  last  July,  the  23d  anniversary  of 
the  conflict,  the  surviving  members  of  the  9Qth  Pa.  Vet. 
Vols.  erected  and  dedicated  a  beautiful  monument  to  the 
memory  of  all  its  fallen  heroes,  on  the  very  spot  at  the 
Devil's  Den  where  the  little  band  of  eight  gave  their  lives 
that  we  might  live  as  a  Nation. 

That  great  leader  in  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,  Abra 
ham  Lincoln,  said,  on  the  same  spot,  a  few  months  after 
the  battle :  "  We  cannot  consecrate  nor  hallow  this  ground. 
The  brave  men,  living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here  have 
consecrated  it  far  above  our  power  to  add  or  detract.  The 
world  will  but  little  note,  nor  long  remember  what  we  say 
here  ;  but  it  can  never  forget  what  they  did  here.  It  is  for 
us,  the  living,  rather  to  dedicate  ourselves  to  the  unfinished 
work  which  they  so  nobly  advanced  ;  to  consecrate  our 
selves  to  the  great  task  remaining,  and  to  gather  from  the 

graves  of  these  honored  dead  increased   devotion  to  that 
fc> 

cause  for  which  they  gave  their  lives. 
Here  let  us  resolve  that  they  shall  not 
have  died  in  vain  ;  that  this  nation  shall, 
under  God,  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom ; 
and  that  government  of  the  people,  by 
the  people  and  for  the  people  shall  not 
perish  forever  from  the  earth." 

Out  of  respect  to  the  sacred  memory 
of  the  heroes  who  consecrated  with  their 
life's  blood  the  spot,  where  our  beautiful 
and  enduring   monument    now    stands,  I  take   pleasure   in 
furnishing   a   miniature  reproduction  here. 


194  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


MY  "VETERAN  FURLOUGH." 

From  Pennsylvania  we  returned  to  Virginia,  and  during 
the  Summer  and  Fall  of  1863,  the  9Qth  was  engaged  in 
marching  and  fighting  many  small  battles,  such  as  Auburn, 
Kelly's  Ford,  Mine  Run,  Wapping  Heights  and  Bartlett's 
Mills,  in  all  of  which  I  carried  the  flag,  and,  with  my 
usual  good  luck,  came  out  unharmed.  January  I,  1864, 
found  the  ggth  at  Brandy  Station,  Virginia,  and  during  a 
tidal  wave  of  patriotism  that  swept  over  our  regiment 
about  that  time,  nearly  every  man  in  it  "  re-enlisted  for  the 
war,"  unless  sooner  shot,  of  course.  As  I  had  been  right 
along  with  the  veterans,  through  everything  up  to  that 
date,  I  wouldn't,  couldn't,  and  didn't  desert  them. 

The  entire  regiment  received  thirty  days'  furlough,  and 
returned  home  to  Philadelphia  in  a  body.  I  shall  long 
remember  the  day  our  regiment  parted  company  with  the 
Army.  The  feeling  was  something  like  that  possessed  by  a 
strong,  affectionate  man  leaving  his  family  for  a  long  jour 
ney.  I  thought,  if  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  got  into 
trouble  with  the  enemy,  during  the  absence  of  the  QQth,  it 
would  have  hard  work  to  pull  through  without  our  assist 
ance  ;  and  when  our  regiment  moved  off,  homeward  bound, 
I  felt  as  if  the  whole  left  flank  of  the  Army  was  going  with 
us,  actually  deserting  those  poor  fellows  left  behind,— 
nearly  a  hundred  thousand  strong. 

Soon  after  arriving  in  Philadelphia  I  had  my  photograph 
taken,  and  for  the  novelty  of  the  thing,  give  a  fac-simile  of 
it  right  here.  I  was  21  years  of  age,  to  a  day,  when  it  was 
struck  off. 


'A  LITTLE  ENTERTAINMENT." 


195 


One  afternoon  a  committee  of  officers  from  the  99th 
waited  upon  me,  requesting  the  pleasure  of  my  company 
at  a  little  entertainment.  I  accepted,  'as  a  matter  of  course, 
without  thinking  much  about  it,  for  the  officers  had 
always  been  very  kind.  They  wouldn't  tell  me  a  thing 
about  it,  except  that  it  was  a  "  little  entertainment."  I 
didn't  know  whether  it  was  an  evening  party,  a  ball,  or  a 
regimental  drill,  but  I  went 
to  work  and  arrayed  myself 
in  my  best,  and  when  re 
flected  in  a  Continental  Ho 
tel  mirror  I  scarcely  knew 
myself,  the  transformation 
was  so  great.  Satisfied  that 
I  looked  well  enough  to  be 
presented,  if  necessary,  to 
Her  Majesty,  the  Queen,  I 
hurried  off  to  the  "  little  en 
tertainment." 

Arriving  at  the  place,  I  was  sadly  disappointed  at  not 
finding  any  ladies  there.  No  one  but  the  officers  of  my 
regiment,  and  their  friends.  In  order  to  remove  my 
embarrassment,  the  Colonel,  Asher  S.  Leidy,  of  Philadel 
phia,  brought  forth  from  its  hiding-place  one  of  the  hand 
somest  American  flags  (made  of  heavy  silk,  and  of  the 
regulation  size)  I  had  ever  seen.*  In  a  short  and  appro 
priate  speech,  on  behalf  of  himself  and  the  other  officers  of 
the  QQth  Pa.  Veteran  Volunteers,  he  presented  the  flag  to 


*  See  full-page  engraving  facing  this  chapter. 


196  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

me,  to  keep  as  my  personal  property.  With  tears  in  his 
eyes,  and  in  the  presence  of  all  his  commissioned  associates, 
who  were  likewise  in  tears,  he  thanked  me  for  himself,  and 
for  them,  and  said  that  as  I  had  successfully  carried  the 
regimental  standard  through  all  the  great  battles  in  which 
the  regiment  had  been  engaged  up  to  that  date,  and  at  the 
critical  moment  in  each  one  I  had  never  been  found  want 
ing,  they  desired  to  acknowledge  the  fact  in  a  fitting  and 
substantial  manner.  "That  flag,"  said  the  Colonel,  "with 
the  battles  in  golden  letters  on  its  stripes,  and  the  engraved 
inscription  on  the  silver  plate  attached  to  the  staff,  tells 
the  whole  story." 

The  inscription  reads  as  follows  : 

Presented  to 

SERGEANT  HARVEY  M.  MUNSELL, 
Color-Bearer  ggth  Reg't  Pa.  Vet.  Vols., 

By  the  Officers,  for 
Meritorious  Conduct  on  the  above  Fields. 

When  the  Colonel  had  finished  his  remarks,  I  was  found 
blubbering  too.  I  had  always  been  considered  iron-clad, 
and  bomb-proof,  but  when  it  came  to  being  bombarded  with 
tears  in  that  fashion,  I  surrendered,  thanked  the  officers 
for  the  beautiful  gift,  and  told  them  I  had  only  done  my 
duty  as  I  understood  it.  If  I  had  been  the  means  of  aid 
ing,  in  the  slightest  degree,  in  maintaining  the  good  reputa 
tion  of  the  Ninety-ninth,  I  was  extremely  happy,  but  it 
could  only  have  been  accomplished  under  certain  condi 
tions ;  viz.,  by  the  aid  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  that 
grand  old  regiment,  who  vigorously  sustained  me  at  all 
times,  and  more  particularly  at  the  critical  moment  in  all 
the  great  battles  in  which  we  had  been  engaged.  I  was 


A  NO  THEK  PRESENTIMENT. 


I97 


proud  to  say,  not  a  solitary  officer  or  man  had  ever  been 
found  wanting  in  a  fight  with  the  enemy, — that  we  had 
stood  by  each  other,  in  fighting  our  battles  with  the  com 
mon  enemy ;  and  because  we  were  all  of  one  mind,  and 
stood  by  each  other,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  we  invariably 
won  our  battles.  I  again  thanked  them  for  their  good 
opinion,  and  the  honor  bestowed  upon  me,  and  closed  the 
"  little  entertainment  "  by  banqueting  every  one  present 
with  lemonade  and  ice-cream. 

WHAT  CAME  OF  A  PRESENTIMENT. 

Soon  after  I  re-enlisted  for  the  war,  a  feeling  came  over 
me,  a  sort  of  presentiment, — as  in  the  case  of  Broadbent 
and  Herbster, — that  the  next  battle  in  which  I  carried  the 
flag,  I  should  be  killed.  That  ugly  sensation  hung  over  me 
all  the  time  I  was  home  on  my  veteran  furlough. 

On  the  re-assembling  of  the  regiment  at  a  camp  near 
Philadelphia,  after  its  leave  of  absence  had  expired,  I 
brought  the  matter  before  my  captain,  and  he  tried  to  get 
my  furlough  extended  sixty  days,  but  without  avail.  The 
commanding  officer  of  that  department  said  it  could  not 
be  done, — that  every  able-bodied  man  was  wanted  and 
needed  at  the  front.  From  Philadelphia,  the  regiment 
went  to  Washington  on  its  way  to  the  field. 

I  still  kept  on  wondering  how  I  could  honorably  get  rid 
of  carrying  the  "  old  flag"  in  the  next  battle,  and  at  last  an 
idea  struck  me. 

The  Government  wanted  officers  for  colored  troops,  and 
as  there  was  a  free  military  school  in  Philadelphia  for 


I0/g  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

applicants  for  commissions,  I  thought  I  would  now  try 
the  Secretary  of  War. 

One  afternoon  I  took  my  Kearney  medal,  and  the  flag 
presented  by  the  officers,  and  started  to  see  the  Secre 
tary  of  War.  When  I  arrived  at  the  War  Department  it 
was  late,  and  many  were  ahead  of  me,  on  various  kinds  of 
business.  Mr.  Stanton  received  and  listened  to  each  man 
in  his  turn.  It  was  nearly  dark  when  it  came  my  turn 
to  meet  the  War  Minister.  Just  before  Mr.  Stanton  was 
ready  to  leave  for  home,  I  introduced  myself  to  him  ; 
he  appeared  tired  and  worn  out  by  the  day's  work,  and 
spoke  short,  and  treated  me  rudely.  Wanted  to  know 
what  I  was  doing  there,  away  from  my  regiment  at  that 
time  of  day.  I  answered  politely,  and  at  the  same  time 
unfurled  my  flag,  and  showed  him  the  battles  on  it,  and 
the  inscription  on  the  silver  plate.  There  was  only  a  dim 
light  in  his  office,  and  I  remember  how  he  went  and  hunted 
a  match,  lit  up  everything  that  could  be  lighted,  and  then 
called  in  some  staff  officers  and  others  to  look  at  the  flag. 
It  was  simply  a  grand,  impromptu  reception.  Scarcely  a 
word  had  passed  between  us  up  to  that  moment,  but  he 
looked  first  at  me,  then  at  the  flag,  and  then  at  his  army  of 
aides. 

Finally  Mr.  Stanton  asked  me  what  I  wanted.  I  told 
him  I  was  a  coward,  and  wanted  to  get  out  of  the  next 
fight.  That  blunt  answer  to  his  question  nearly  threw 
him  into  convulsions  of  laughter,  and  at  the  same  time  he 
whipped  out  of  his  side  pocket  a  little  memorandum  book, 
and  asked  if  there  were  any  more  "  cowards"  like  me  in  my 
regiment?  I  answered,  "  Yes,  all  alike."  He  took  my 


S£CA'£  TAR  Y  STAN  TON 'S  A  CTION.  l  ^ 

name  off  of  the  silver  plate  on  the  flag-staff,  wrote  it  in  his 
book,  and  then  asked  for  two  more.  I  gave  him  the  names 
of  Captain  John  W.  Moore  and  Lieutenant  A.  W.  Bach- 
man,  the  latter  a  2d  lieutenant  of  my  own  company.  At 
his  request  I  gave  him  a  short  account  of  my  service,  and 
also  told  him  about  my  "  presentiment." 

Mr.  Stanton  was  apparently  pleased  with  my  record,  for 
he  said,  in  the  presence  of  everybody  there,  when  shaking 
me  by  the  hand,  that  I  was  the  only  stranger,  either  soldier 
or  civilian,  who  had  ever  asked  him  for  a  favor,  without  be 
ing  loaded  down  with  letters,  and  who  had  brought  such 
a  living  testimonial  of  any  service  they  had  rendered  the 
United  States  Government.  Those  were  about  his  words. 
He  kept  right  on  in  the  same  strain,  as  follows  :  "  I'll  dis 
charge  you  ;  I'll  promote  you  to  a  commissioned  officer  in 
the  Regular  Army  ;  I'll  do  anything  in  my  power  for  you, 
Sergeant  Munsell." 

That  was  certainly  the  happiest  moment  of  my  life,  and 
I  was  almost  willing  to  go  back  to  my  regiment,  take  the 
"Old  Flag"  into  the  next  fight,  and  be  shot.  I  told  Mr. 
Stanton,  when  thanking  him,  I  did  not  want  to  be  dis 
charged  or  promoted,  or  anything  of  the  kind  ;  but  sim 
ply  wanted  a  furlough  to  attend  the  "  Free  Military 
School,"  in  Philadelphia.  He  sat  down  and  filled  one  out 
for  me,  himself,  leaving  it  undated.  He  then  wrote  a  letter 
to  my  colonel,  requesting  him  to  date  the  leave  of  absence 
the  day  I  left  the  regiment,  leaving  the  time  optional  with 
me.  I  took  said  furlough  and  letter  to  the  Colonel,  and  he 
became  furious  ;  tore  up  both  of  them,  and  put  me  in  the 
guard-house.  Late  that  night  the  guard  let  me  out,  and 


200  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

I  went  direct  to  Mr.  Stanton's  home  and  reported  my 
trouble.  He  in  turn  became  furious  at  the  Colonel,  wrote 
me  another  furlough,  and  sent  me  back  to  my  regiment 
with  an  escort.  This  time  the  good  colonel  respected  every 
thing,  and  everybody,  but  Mr.  Stanton  never  forgot  the 
insult  to  his  authority. 

I  attended  the  "  Free  Military  School,"  then  went  before 
the  Board  of  Examiners  in  Washington,  and  passed  for 
what  was  then  called  a  "ist  Class,  First  Lieutenant,"  for  a 
company  of  colored  troops.  The  great  battle  of  Spottsyl- 
vania  had  been  fought  in  the  mean  time,  and  I  having  suc 
cessfully  flanked  it,  took  "  French  leave  "  of  Washington  and 
started  for  my  old  regiment  at  the  front,  arriving  there  just 
in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  and  all 
subsequent  battles  with  the  regiment,  including  those 
around  Petersburg,  and  the  first  battle  at  Deep  Bottom. 

While  absent  at  the  military  school,  I  had  been  pro 
moted  to  first  lieutenant  in  my  own  company,  C,  99th 
Pa.  Vols.,  and  took  command  as  lieutenant  in  the  regiment, 
at  Cold  Harbor,  having  been  excused  from  going  into  a 
colored  regiment.  Then  Captain  Moore,  Lieutenant  Bach- 
man  and  myself  were  ordered  home  to  raise  a  new  regiment. 
That  was  the  trio  Mr.  Stanton  took  down  in  his  memo 
randum  book,  and  through  him  and  General  Birney  the 
order  was  obtained.  Moore  was  to  have  been  colonel, 
Bachman,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  I  major,  of  the  new  regi 
ment. 

PRISON  AND  PROMOTION. 

Just  before  we  could  start  home  to  recruit  the  new  regi 
ment,  I  was  taken  prisoner.  Moore  and  Bachman  raised 


HOW  TO  MAKE  CONSCRIPTS  FIGHT.  2OI 

the  new  regiment, — the  2O3<i  Penna.  Vols., — in  Philadel 
phia,  in  less  than  a  month,  and  immediately  marched  with 
it  to  North  Carolina.  Colonel  Moore  was  killed  while  lead 
ing  the  2O3d  Pa.,  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  and  Bach- 
man  was  promoted  colonel. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  General 
Grant  moved  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  south  side 
of  James  River,  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  on  June 
17  or  18,  1864,  the  day  after  its  arrival  there,  it  fought 
a  desperate  battle  in  trying  to  capture  that  city. 

Our  brigade  had  just  received  several  invoices  of  raw  re 
cruits,  made  up  in  most  part  of  conscripts,  who  were  in 
clined  to  be  anything  but  patriotic  and  soldierly, — declared 
they  wouldn't  fight,  and  if  taken  into  a  battle  would  either 
desert  to  the  enemy  in  front,  or  run  away  to  the  rear. 
They  made  no  secret  of  their  designs,  so  the  commanders 
of  regiments  and  brigades  were  compelled  to  take  prompt 
and  decisive  action  to  thwart  them,  and  they  did  it  in  the 
following  way.  More  than  half  of  the  soldiers  in  the  brig 
ade  were  old  veterans,  and  they  were  detailed  and  divided 
up  into  two  parts,  one  part  to  be  equally  distributed 
throughout  each  company  in  every  regiment,  and  the  other 
part  was  sent  out  on  the  skirmish  line,  in  charge  of  an  offi 
cer.  I  was  placed  in  charge  of  those  in  front  of  our  regi 
ment,  and  before  advancing  to  our  position,  each  man  was 
supplied  with  a  spade,  one  day's  rations  of  food  and  water, 
and  60  rounds  of  ammunition. 

Under  cover  of  the  darkness,  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  we  advanced  on  our  hands  and  knees  to  within  a 
few  hundred  feet  of  the  rebel  skirmish  line,  and  then  each 


2Q2  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

man  dug  a  hole,  large  and  deep  enough  to  lie  down  and 
move  about  in  comfortably,  without  being  seen  by  the 
enemy.  When  daylight  came  our  work  was  completed,  and 
the  rebels  knew  nothing  about  it.  At  3  o'clock  that  after 
noon  the  troops  advanced  to  give  battle  to  the  enemy.  The 
moment  it  had  passed  the  skirmish  line,  which  was  itself  a 
line  of  battle,  in  single  file  beneath  the  surface,  the  old 
veterans  in  the  regiments  in  front  were  ordered  to  shoot  or 
bayonet  any  conscript  refusing  to  fight,  or  caught  deserting 
to  the  enemy,  and  the  old  soldiers  in  their  holes  on  the 
skirmish  line  were  sternly  ordered  to  instantly  kill  any  man 
trying  to  pass  to  the  rear,  unless  wounded.  There  the 
poor  conscripts  were  between  two  fires, — viz.,  the  fire  of 
the  enemy  in  front,  and  the  fire  of  their  friends  in  the 
rear;  besides  the  fire  of  the  veterans  in  the  ranks  right 
alongside  of  them.  They  were  completely  cornered,  and 
had  to  fight  or  die  ;  so  rather  than  die  without  any  show 
whatever  for  their  lives,  they  stood  square  up  to  the  rack 
and  took  their  chances  with  the  rest  of  us,  and  fought  like 

o 

demons.  From  that  time  on  we  had  no  more  trouble  with 
"  drafted  men." 

During  that  battle  the  ggth  had  two  adjutants  killed. 
One,  the  regular  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  was  killed  at  the 
front,  carrying  orders  to  and  fro.  The  Colonel  appointed 
another  on  the  spot,  and  sent  him  to  the  rear  for  some 
thing.  There,  over  half  a  mile  from  the  skirmish  line  and 
the  battlefield,  and  down  in  an  immense  ravine,  where  it 
seemed  to  be  entirely  free  from  danger,  the  new  adjutant 
stopped  to  wash  his  hands  and  face  in  a  little  brook,  and 
while  stooping  over,  a  stray  bullet  from  the  enemy  came 


MAKING  A  MAN"   OF  ME. 


203 


along  and  killed  him.  That  adjutant  was  a  poor  man, 
while  the  other  one  was  rich,  but  the  bodies  were  both 
embalmed  and  sent  home  at  the  same  time,  to  their  rela 
tives  in  Philadelphia.  By  a  strange  coincidence,  the  names 
and  addresses  to  be  placed  on  the  boxes  containing  the 
remains,  were  by  mistake  changed  ;  that  error  caused 
great  confusion  in  Philadelphia,  for  the  box  containing  the 
remains  of  the  poor  man  went  to  the  rich  man's  relatives, 
and  the  other  went  to  the  poor  man's  friends.  When  the 
mistake  was  discovered,  the  wealthy  people  defrayed  all 
the  funeral  expenses. 

In  a  little  over  a  month  after  that  battle  I  was  captured 
on  the  skirmish  line,  at  a  place  north  of  the  James  River, 
called  "Deep  Bottom";  it  was  about  the  time  of  the 
great  "Mine  explosion"  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

Our  lines  were  not  long  enough  by  a  mile  or  so,  and  the 
rebels  came  right  around  on  our  flank  and  rear.  Before  we 
knew  it,  more  than  a  dozen  of  us  were  between  two  fires, 
and  compelled  to  surrender  or  die. 

Not  being  ready  to  die  just  then,  we  surrendered.  A 
rebel  captain  kicked  off  a  board  from  a  fence  near,  grabbed 
me  by  the  shoulders,  dragged  me  through,  and  said  he 
"would  make  a  man  of  me."  While  saying  that,  he  took 
my  hat,  a  bran  new  one,  put  it  on  his  own  head,  and 
placed  his  own  old,  greasy,  slouch  hat  on  my  head,  pulling 
it  way  down  over  my  eyes  and  ears.  The  ridiculous  busi 
ness  made  us  both  laugh,  right  in  the  midst  of  the  fighting, 
and  as  he  was  ordering  me  to  the  rear,  a  shell  from  a  mor 
tar  on  one  of  our  gun-boats  in  the  James  River  came  along, 
burst,  and  blew  him  to  atoms.  I  made  my  way  to  the  rear, 
and  to  Libby  Prison,  under  guard,  just  as  fast  as  I  could. 


204 


WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 


In  about  a  month  from  that  date,  our  army  had  a  fight 
with  the  rebels  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  near  Petersburg, 
and  lost  several  thousand  men,  taken  prisoners.  The  fol 
lowing  day  the  prisoners  were  brought  to  Richmond,  and 
among  them  a  few  wounded  colored  men.  They  were  all 
passed  in  review  before  "  Dick "  Turner,  the  fiend  in 
charge  of  Libby  Prison.  The  column  stopped,  and  a 
wounded  colored  soldier,  on  crutches,  who  had  almost  bled 
to  death,  dropped  down  in  his  tracks,  and  Dick  Turner 
gave  him  several  heavy  kicks  trying  to  get  him  up.  We 
hooted  at  him,  through  the  prison  grates.  He  ordered  us 
back  from  the  windows,  under  penalty  of  instant  death. 
We,  like  good  soldiers,  obeyed.  At  10  o'clock  that  night 
we  were  aroused  from  our  slumbers  by  the  music  of  a  brass 
band  marching  into  the  prison,  up  stairs,  and  right  into  our 
sleeping  apartment,  a  room  fifty  or  sixty  feet  long,  and 
about  twenty  feet  wide.  Said  band  was  at  the  head  of  a 
file  of  rebel  soldiers,  with  loaded  guns  and  fixed  bayonets 
commanded  by  "  Dick,"  himself.  He  marched  the  band 
and  soldiers  around  the  room  about  half  an  hour,  made 
every  one  of  us  (about  400,  all  officers)  fall  into  line,  between 
a  double  guard  of  rebel  soldiers,  at  a  charge  bayonet,  and 
then  told  us  to  commence  "  marking  time,"  and  ordered  the 
guard  to  shoot  or  bayonet  the  first  man  who  stopped  be 
fore  daylight  the  next  morning, — said  he  would  teach  us 
to  "  hoot "  at  him  again.  That  was  the  hardest  night's 
work  I  ever  did,  and  on  an  empty  stomach  too,  for  the 
wretch  had  cut  off  our  rations  of  corn  bread  for  that  after 
noon  and  evening. 

From   Libby  we  were  taken  to  Salisbury,   N.   C.,  where 


J'X/SON  EXPEDIENCES. 


205 


there  were  about  ten  thousand  of  our  enlisted  men,  prison 
ers  of  war.  Nothing  but  a  line  of  rebel  guards  separated 
the  men  from  the  officers  within  the  enclosure,  called  a 
stockade.  So  we  commenced  to  plot  and  plan  for  a  break 
and  escape. 

SUCCOR  BY  PROXY. 

By  an  oversight  on  our  part  the  rebels  found  it  out,  and 
immediately  sent  the  officers  to  Danville,  Va.,  and  there 
put  us  in  an  old  tobacco  warehouse  that  contained  three 
floors.  In  order  to  be  out  of  the  way,  I  took  up  my  posi 
tion  on  the  third  floor,  in  the  corner  farthest  from  the 
stairs.  A  few  days  after  our  arrival  there,  a  rebel  officer 
came  to  the  head  of  the  stairs,  on  the  floor  where  I  existed, 
mounted  an  empty  candle-box,  and  called  out  as  follows : 

"  Any  you  Yanks  who  would  like  to  supply  food  to 
my  brother,  now  a  prisoner  of  war  on  Johnson's  Island, 
Lake  Erie,  captured  at  Gettysburg,  I  will  furnish  you  in 
return."  Every  officer  jumped  at  the  chance,  and  then  I 
commenced  to  bemoan  my  situation,  condemned  myself 
for  taking  up  a  position  so  far  from  the  head  of  the  stairs, 
and  mentally  resolved  never  to  do  such  a  foolish  thing 
again.  There  was  a  regular  scramble  among  the  officers  to 
see  who  would  be  the  "  lucky  one,"  when  the  rebel  captain 
firmly  told  everybody  he  would  not  furnish  them  with  any 
thing  until  he  first  heard  that  his  brother  had  been  sup 
plied.  I  saw  and  heard  it  all,  and  I  saw  every  man  leave 
the  Captain  as  if  by  magic.  Then  I  jumped  up,  and  yelled 
at  the  top  of  my  voice,  saying  /would  do  it.  He  instantly 
discovered  me,  pointed  and  yelled  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 


206  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

saying,  "  You  are  just  the  man  I  am  looking  for.  I  thought 
there  was  one  honest  man  in  this  crowd,  who  was  willing  to 
trust  me."  He  was  Captain  Hutter,  a  resident  of  Lynch- 
burg,  Va. 

Although  a  rebel,  he  was  an  honest,  upright,  whole- 
souled  man.  He  commenced  supplying  me  from  that 
moment,  and  kept  it  up  till  I  was  released  from  captivity. 
His  brother  wrote  him  from  Johnson's  Island,  Lake  Erie, 
that  I  had  more  than  kept  my  part  of  the  compact.  That 
my  friends  had  taken  clothing,  provisions,  and  money  in 
great  abundance  to  him,  but  as  the  United  States  Govern 
ment  was  retaliating  on  prisoners  of  war,  he  was  not  allowed 
to  accept.  He  wrote  his  brother  in  Danville  the  strongest 
letters  in  my  behalf,  telling  him  to  do  anything  he  could 
for  me,  which  his  brother  in  Danville  did,  from  first  to  last ; 
fed  me,  and  several  of  my  prison  friends,  sumptuously. 
Went  all  the  way  to  Richmond,  and  made  "  Dick  "  Turner, 
of  Libby  Prison,  surrender  all  the  money  he  had  robbed  us 
of  when  captured.  Procured  a  special  order  from  the  C.  S. 
Government  for  my  exchange ;  this  was  not  used  by  me, 
as  the  general  parole  of  prisoners  was  near  at  hand.  He 
had  me  measured  for  a  suit  of  clothes  that  was  to  have  cost 
twenty-seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  in  rebel  money,  but 
did  not  wait  to  get  them,  because  I  had  to  go  North  before 
they  were  finished.*  That  was  in  1865,  just  before  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  everything  in  the  South  was  dear 
and  scarce,  and  a  barrel  of  flour  was  worth  twelve  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars. 

*  It  was  said  Captain  Hutter  was  a  son  of  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  South  be 
fore  the  war.  Owned  several  plantations,  and  several  hundred  slaves.  Captain  Hutter 
was  ordnance  officer  at  Danville,  Va.,  at  the  time  he  met  me  in  prison. 


"WHEN JOHNNIE  COMES  MARCHING  HOME."  2O7 

A  TRANSFORMATION. 

On  returning  to  my  regiment,  May  17,  1865,  after  I  had 
been  declared  exchanged,  I  found  a  letter  from  the  Ad 
jutant-general  of  Pennsylvania,  enclosing  me  a  commission 
as  Captain  of  Company  C,  ggth  Regiment,  Pa.  Veteran 
Volunteers,  to  rank  from  September  12,  1864.  I  was  then 
just  a  little  past  twenty-one,  and  captain  of  the  same 
company,  in  the  same  regiment,  in  which  I  enlisted  as  a 
"high  private"  in  1861,  when  but  a  little  over  eighteen 
years  of  age.  This  is  a  fac 
simile  of  a  photograph  taken 
of  me  in  a  captain's  uniform, 
July,  1865,  soon  after  the 
war  ended.  My  long  and  te 
dious  experience  as  a  pris 
oner  of  war  had  worn  me 
down,  and  made  me  look 
thin  and  pale.  However,  I 
did  not  mind  that,  for  look 
ing  back  over  my  four  long 
years  of  the  most  active  kind  of  service,  barely  touched 
upon  in  this  article,  I  could  not  but  feel  thankful  for  hav 
ing  passed  through  the  whirlpool  of  excitement  and  danger 
unharmed.  Besides  all  that,  the  final  victory  had  been 
gained,  Slavery  obliterated,  the  Rebellion  crushed,  and 
the  Union  saved. 

But  what  a  contrast.  The  little,  scrawny,  eighteen-year- 
old  boy,  with  a  knapsack  on  his  back,  marching  down 
Pennsylvania  Avenue,  Washington,  a  Private  in  the  rear 


208  WITH  THE  COLORS  IN  WAR  TIME. 

rank,  and  at  the  tail  end  of  the  regiment,  in  July,  1861  ;— 
and  the  same  person  marching  down  the  same  thorough 
fare,  after  the  war  was  ove-r,  Captain,  commanding  Com 
pany  C,  of  the  same  regiment,  during  the  Great  Review, 
by  the  President  and  his  Cabinet,  of  two  hundred  thou 
sand  men. 

February   Qth,    1866,   the   Secretary  of   War   sent    me  a 
"  Medal  of  Honor,"  accompanied  by  a  letter  of  transmittal. 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

"  WASHINGTON,  February  9,  1866. 

"  Sir : — Herewith  I  enclose  the  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  which  has  been  awarded 
you  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  under  the  Resolution  of  Congress,  approved 
July  12,  1862,  To  provide  for  the  presentation  of  'MEDALS  OF  HONOR'  to 
the  Enlisted  Men  of  the  Army  and  Volunteer  forces  who  have  distinguished 
or  may  distinguish  themselves  in  battle  during  the  present  Rebellion. 
"  Please  acknowledge  its  receipt. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
"  (Signed)  E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

"  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 
"To  HARVEY M.  MUNSELL,  Late  Color-Sergt.,  QQth  Regiment,  P.  V.  V." 


BATTLE-FLAG   9QTH    PA.   VOLUNTEERS. 
(CARRIED  THROUGH  13  BATTLES  BY  SERGEANT  MUNSELL.) 


GONDUCTONTHF    j 
1865    IN  SAVING  M 
'$\  THE  HONOR  ABLE  & 
THEN  SECRETARY  gg 
OF  THE 
STATES 


FOILING    AN    ASSASSIN. 

FAC-SIMILE    OF   GOLD    MEDAL   (PAGE   2l8) 


'4 


209 


SERGEANT   GEORGE   FOSTER     ROBINSON, 

NOW    MAJOR   AND    PAYMASTER    U.   S.  A. 


FOILING   AN    ASSASSIN. 

TO  the  schoolboy  of  1860,  "the  times  that  tried  men's 
souls  "  meant  the  days  of  the  American  Revolution. 
The  schoolboy  of  to-day  learns  that  men's  souls  and  bodies 
were  sorely  tried  in  a  greater  revolution,  only  twenty  years 
ago,  when  blood  was  poured  out  like  water  to  preserve  the 
Union. 

The  war  closed  with  a  tragedy, — the  assassination  of  one 
of  the  greatest  men  and  wisest  rulers  the  world  has  ever 
seen.  The  enquiry  into  the  circumstances  of  President 
Lincoln's  death  laid  bare  a  foul  conspiracy,  which  intended 
the  destruction  of  the  principal  officers  of  our  Government. 
The  plot  was  only  successful  in  one  instance.  Why  it 
failed  in  another  case  may  here  be  shown. 

In  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five,  there  stood 

210 


A  FAMOUS  NEIGHBORHOOD.  211 

in  the  City  of  Washington,  not  far  from  the  White  House, 
and  on  the  eastern  side  of  Lafayette  Square,  a  plain,  red 
brick  house.  It  had  been  a  fashionable  club  house,  but  at 
the  time  mentioned  it  was  the  residence  of  the  Secretary  of 
State.  The  street  was  bordered  by  noble  old  trees,  and 
although  within  a  few  yards  of  that  famous  thoroughfare, 
Pennsylvania  Avenue,  might  almost  have  been  a  lane  in  the 
suburbs  of  some  ancient  provincial  town,  so  prim  and  quiet 
and  dull  did  it  seem.  Appearances  were  a  trifle  misleading 
as  to  its  character.  Over  the  well-swept  cobble-stones  had 
rolled  the  carriages  of  some  of  the  noblest  families  of  Eu 
rope  ;  under  the  grateful  shade  had  sauntered  haughty 
dames  and  gallant  cavaliers.  Within  these  precincts  there 
had  been  revelling  and  feasting  and  "  flow  of  soul."  But 
these  times  had  fled.  War,  with  wrinkled  front,  had  come 
and  changed  the  sights  and  sounds.  'The  marching  regi 
ment  had  taken  the  place  of  the  handsome  equipage ;  the 
clanking  dragoon  had  succeeded  to  the  languishing  beau, 
and  the  martial  notes  of  "  We're  coming,  Father  Abraham, 
a  hundred  thousand  more,"  had  supplanted  the  softer  strains 
of  Strauss  and  Verdi. 

As  the  war  period  drew  near  the  end,  the  little  street  be 
came  less  frequented,  and  at  the  time  mentioned,  was  rather 
avoided  by  vehicles,  for  the  famous  dweller  in  the  house 
was  very  ill  ;  he  had  been  thrown  from  his  carriage  and  se 
riously  injured. 

********* 

"  Swear  to  be  loyal  to  me,  to  stick  to  me  through  all,  and 
I  will  give  you  more  money  than  you  ever  dreamed  of  ! 
After  a  pause  came  the  answer  in  low  but  firm  tones,  "  7 


212 


FOILING  AN  ASSASSIN. 


swear  !  "  The  speakers  were  two  young  men  ;  the  time, 
February,  1865  ;  the  place,  a  room  in  the  principal  hotel  of 
Baltimore.  One  of  these  men  was  tall  and  slender,  with 
piercing  eyes,  and  hair  of  raven  hue.  His  dress  was  quiet 
in  tone,  but  not  in  its  first  youth,  and  was  worn  with  a  care 
less  grace.  His  movements  were  quick  and  nervous,  and 
a  voice  singularly  melodious  was  one  of  his  attractions. 
This  man  bore  a  name  honored  in  his  profession,  albeit  his 
place  was  not  among  the  "  stars."  But  he  was  known  to 
the  public  as  a  bright  and  promising  actor,  and  to  many  as  a 
genial  companion.  Who  would  have  thought  that  here  was 
the  material  for  a  conspirator — nay,  a  leader  of  conspirators? 
For  this  man  was  John  Wilkes  Booth. 

Strongly  in  contrast  was  his  companion.  Almost  gigan 
tic  in  stature,  broad-shouldered,  muscular,  he  was  a  mag 
nificent  animal.  His  low  brow,  fierce,  restless  eyes,  square, 
massive  jaws  and  deliberate  movements,  indicated  qualities 
which,  in  the  hands  of  an  unscrupulous  master,  might  be  po 
tent  for  evil.  He  'was  dressed  in  a  motley  assortment  of 
clothes,  half  military,  half  civil,  such  as  might  have  been 
selected  at  random  in  a  cast-off  clothing  shop.  His  shoes 
were  originally  soldier's  brogans,  now  worn  to  the  welt,  with 
the  toes  peeping  through  the  uppers.  A  pair  of  faded  light- 
blue  trousers,  torn  and  patched,  frayed  at  the  bottoms,  and 
liberally  bespattered  with  mud,  covered  his  legs.  Around 
his  brawny  chest  was  tightly  drawn  a  dark-blue  flannel  shirt 
without  collar,  in  lieu  of  which  a  red  bandanna  handkerchief 
was  loosely  knotted  about  his  neck.  A  jacket  of  Confeder 
ate-gray  cloth,  from  which  nearly  all  the  buttons  had  dis- 


A  QUEER  CUSTOMER.  2  {  , 

appeared,  and  a  brown  hat,  completed  the  costume  of 
Booth's  singular  guest. 

At  that  time,  in  Baltimore,  it  was  not  unusual  to  see  men 
in  such  incongruous  garb ;  stragglers  or  deserters  from  the 
Confederate  army  or  Southern  refugees.  It  was  war  time, 
and  even  the  former  dandy  of  his  club,  when  on  short  leave, 
was  glad  to  get  into  "  cits  "  of  a  past  date ;  so  that  it  was 
not  wonderful  that  this  tramp-like  person  should  be  per 
mitted  to  pass  the  portals  of  a  fashionable  hotel  without 
question,  in  the  company  of  the  well-known  actor. 

This  "  queer  customer  "  was  a  bit  of  drift-wood  from  the 
war  waves.  He  was  reared  in  Florida,  upon  a  small  planta 
tion,  and  without  the  advantages  of  education.  At  eighteen 
he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army,  fought  gallantly,  it  was 
said,  and  after  much  wild  adventure  had  left  the  sinking 
Southern  ship  and  wandered  to  Baltimore  ;  there,  footsore, 
hungry,  destitute  and  utterly  friendless,  he  had  stumbled 
across  the  actor.  A  long  while  before,  he  had  once  seen 
Booth  upon  the  stage,  in  the  velvet  doublet  and  trunk 
hose  of  the  days  of  Chivalry,  in  all  the  golden  radiance  of 
the  footlights.  His  imagination  had  made  the  play  real 
and  the  players  noblemen,  in  every  sense.  So,  when  he  met 
his  stage-hero  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  he  ventured  to 
accost  him. 

A  brief  conversation  impressed  Booth  with  the  belief  that 
this  man  could  be  made  a  useful  instrument  in  the  evil  pur 
pose  he  had  in  view.  He  was  right.  He  had  found  the 
unfortunate  wretch  who  was  soon  to  be  known  to  the  civil 
ized  world  by  the  name  of  Lewis  Payne. 


214  FOILING  AN  ASSASSIN. 

The  fourteenth  day  of  April,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty- 
five,  was  well-nigh  spent.  It  lacked  but  three  hours  of  mid 
night,  and  the  dimly  lighted  Washington  streets  were  silent 
and  almost  deserted.  It  was  the  moment  when  theatre 
goers  begin  to  enjoy  the  play  if  it  is  good,  or  become  bored 
and  restless  if  it  is  otherwise.  To  the  frequenters  of  Ford's 
Theatre  there  was,  that  evening,  all  the  excitement  of  a 
"  first  night."  The  President  and  Mrs.  Lincoln,  with  a 
couple  of  friends,  were  conspicuous  in  a  box,  thoroughly 
enjoying  "  Our  American  Cousin,"  which,  under  the  au 
spices  of  that  (long  ago)  favorite,  Laura  Keene,  had  been 
having  a  successful  run.  Had  none  among  that  gay  throng 
any  presentiment  of  calamity? 

At  that  moment,  two  men  were  in  earnest  consultation  in 
an  obscure  drinking-saloon  in  a  side  street,  near  the  theatre. 
In  one  we  recognize  our  dramatic  acquaintance ;  the  other 
wears  his  hat  pulled  down  over  his  eyes.  On  a  table  before 
them  are  a  couple  of  glasses,  half  full  of  an  amber-colored 
liquid.  With  the  exception  of  the  bartender,  they  are  the 
sole  occupants  of  the  room.  In  his  nervous  way,  Booth 
puts  his  hand  on  the  other's  shoulder  and  whispers,  "  Re 
member,  try  the  medicine  dodge  first  ;  but  see  him  sure.  As 
soon  as  it  is  done,  meet  me  at  the  bridge.  Now  go  ;  it 
is  nearly  time/'  Both  rose  to  their  feet.  Booth's  compan 
ion  towered  above  him  as  they  clasped  hands — for  the  last 
time  in  their  lives,  although  they  knew  it  not.  The  motion 
threw  open  the  long  brown-and-white-check  overcoat  worn 
by  the  stranger,  and  disclosed  a  belt,  buckled  tightly  about 
his  waist,  in  which  was  thrust  a  large  knife,  and  from  an 


SERGEANT  ROBINSON'S  OPPORTUNITY.  2  I  C 

open  holster  on  the  other  side  gleamed  the  silver-mounted 
handle  of  a  revolver. 

A  DESPERATE  STRUGGLE. 

Within  the  domicile  of  the  disabled  Cabinet  Minister  all 
was  quiet ;  lights  were  turned  low,  and  those  persons  not  on 
duty  prepared  for  bed.  Mr.  Frederick  Seward  (the  Assist 
ant-Secretary  of  State)  was  at  his  writing-table  near  his 
father's  room.  Major  Augustus  Seward  was  resting,  pre 
paratory  to  his  regular  watch,  which  would  commence  at 
midnight.  ' 

In  the  sick-room  the  curtains  were  tightly  drawn,  and  the 
shaded  lamp  cast  a  soft  radiance  upon  the  quaint  furniture 
and  the  snow-white  drapery  of  the  couch  upon  which  the 
invalid  sought  in  vain  the  brief  oblivion  of  sleep.  The 
soldier-nurse,  after  a  final  glance  at  his  charge,  sank  into 
the  depths  of  an  old-fashioned  leathern  arm-chair,  and  pick 
ing  up  a  book  was  about  to  open  it,  when  he  heard  a  ring  at 
the  bell.  Sergeant  Robinson  was  not  a  regular  hospital 
nurse,  but  was  himself  barely  convalescent  from  a  severe 
wound  received  as  a  soldier  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  of 
Maine  Volunteer  Infantry,  at  Bermuda  Hundreds,  Virginia, 
on  the  2Oth  of  May,  1864.  As  soon  as  able,  he  was  given 
light  duty,  and  detailed  to  take  care  of  Secretary  Seward. 

The  bell  was  answered  by  the  colored  boy,  William.  A 
large  man  in  a  light  overcoat  and  slouch  hat  strode  into  the 
hall.  He  spoke  hurriedly  and  roughly. 

"  I  want  to  see  Mr.  Seward.  I  have  some  medicine  from 
Dr.  Verdi." 


216 


FOILING  AN  ASSASSIN. 


"You  can't  see  the  Secretary;  nobody  'lowed  in  his 
room,"  replied  the  faithful  servant. 

"  But  I  must  see  him,   "  said  the  stranger. 

William  reflected  that  perhaps  this  was  a  messenger  from 
the  doctor,  who  might  be  allowed  to  see  one  of  the  family, 
to  whom  he  would  perhaps  deliver  his  message.  He  moved 
towards  the  stairs  leading  to  the  second  floor,  closely  fol 
lowed  by  the  stranger,  who  kept  his  right  hand  in  his 

pocket. 

^si^eBMfc, 

"  Don't    tread    so    heavy," 

said  William,  as  the  stranger's 
boots  came  down  solidly  on 
the  polished  wood  of  the  stair 
way.  As  they  reached  the 
first  landing,  Frederick  Seward 
came  forward. 

"  Tis  a  messenger,  sir,  from 
the  doctor.  I  told  him  he 
couldn't  see  the  Secretary," 
said  William. 

"  Of  course  my  father  can  see  no  one ;  he  is  very  ill." 
"  I  must  see  him  ;  the  doctor  said  so,"  persisted  the  man. 
"  But  I  tell  you  it  is  impossible,"  said  the  Assistant-Secre 
tary.     The  man  turned  about  as  if  to  go  down,  and  William 
went  before  him.     Suddenly,   with  an   exclamation — more 
like    the    growl   of   some  wild   beast — "  You  —      — !  "  the 
stranger  struck  Frederick    Seward   a   terrible  blow,   which 
felled  him  to  the  floor  ;  again  he  brought  down  the  butt  of 
his  pistol  on  the  defenceless  head  with  crushing  force. 

At  this  moment  the  door  of  the  sick-room  opened  and 


PAYNE,    THE   ASSASSIN. 


AN  UNEQUAL  STRUGGLE. 


217 


Sergeant  Robinson  appeared.  Before  he  could  under 
stand  the  situation,  the  assassin  rushed  at  Robinson 
and  struck  at  his  throat  with  a  knife.  Robinson  instinct 
ively  tried  to  ward  off  the  blow,  but  received  it  upon  his 
head  and  was  knocked  down.  Bounding  over  Robinson, 
the  would-be  murderer  rushed  to  the  bed  and  began  to 
strike  wildly  with  his  knife  at  the  throat  of  the  Secretary. 
Already  he  had  cut  the  flesh  from  one  cheek  to  the  bone, 
and  the  blood  flowed  in  torrents  over  the  pillow.  Then 
the  courage  and  resolution  of  his  New  England  forefathers 
came  gloriously  to  the  support  of  our  Maine  volunteer. 
Although  just  from  the  hospital,  with  his  wounded  leg  not 
yet  healed,  and  enfeebled  from  his  year  of  suffering,  he 
sprang  to  his  feet,  and  without  one  moment's  hesitation, 
without  one  moment's  thought  for  himself,  save,  as  he 
afterward  said,  the  thought  that  he  must  die  to  save  the 
Secretary ;  without  a  weapon  of  any  description,  he  op 
posed  his  naked  hands  to  the  armed  and  desperate  ruffian. 
Robinson  seized  the  assassin  just  as  the  deadly  knife  was 
about  to  be  buried  in  the  throat  of  the  Secretary.  Then 
commenced  an  unequal  struggle,  in  which  the  chances 
seemed  entirely  in  favor  of  the  herculean  stranger.  Robin 
son  succeeded,  at  the  expense  of  two  deep  cuts  down  his 
back  and  two  more  under  the  left  shoulder-blade,  in  drag 
ging  the  villain  from  the  bed,  but  vainly  tried  to  protect 
himself  from  blows  which  were  rained  upon  his  head  with 
the  butt  of  the  pistol.  By  this  time,  Major  Seward,  aroused 
from  slumber,  ran  in  and  also  seized  the  desperado,  and 
although  himself  cut  and  bruised,  with  Robinson's  help  pre 
vented  another  attack  upon  the  Secretary,  who  lay  gasping 


2  j  §  FOILING  AN  ASSASSIN. 

and  bleeding  upon  the  floor,  where  he  had  fallen  from  his 
bed. 

And  now,  baffled  in  his  dread  purpose,  and  alarmed  for 
his  safety,  the  murderous  intruder  suddenly  threw  up  his 
hands,  exclaimed  "  I  am  mad  !  I  am  mad !  "  and  rushed 
from  the  room.  As  he  reached  the  threshold,  he  encoun 
tered  a  State  Department  messenger  and  stabbed  him  also. 
It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  to  throw  his  knife  across 
the  street,  to  jump,  hatless,  upon  a  horse  standing  at  the 
door,  and  disappear  in  the  darkness.  William  now  ap 
peared  with  re-enforcements  from  the  military  headquarters 
at  the  corner  of  the  street.  It  was  too  late.  Payne, — the 
instrument  of  a  stronger  mind,  the  blind  tool  of  a  fanatic, 
— had  made  good  his  escape. 

A  HAPPY  OMEN. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  the  events  which  fol 
lowed  :  the  excitement  in  the  North  over  the  murder  of 
the  President ;  the  pursuit,  capture,  trial,  and  conviction  of 
the  conspirators ;  and  the  slow  but  sure  recovery  of  the 
wounded  Secretary  and  his  son. 

The  distinguished  gallantry  arid  fidelity  of  Sergeant 
George  Foster  Robinson  were  brought  to  the  notice  of  Con 
gress,  and  it  was  decreed  that  a  gold  medal  should  be  struck, 
in  commemoration  of  his  exploit,  and  that  in  addition  the 
sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  should  be  presented  to  him. 
He  was  for  some  time  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Quarter 
master-General,  at  Washington,  and  in  1879  ne  was  commis 
sioned  Major  and  Paymaster  United  States  Army. 

The  closing  scenes  of  the  Great  Conspiracy  were  marked 


A  HAPPY  OMEN. 


2I9 


by  some  curious  incidents.  One  of  these,  never  before 
published,  was  told  to  the  writer  by  an  eye-witness,  and 
seems  a  fitting  conclusion  to  this  story. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  upon  which  the 
murderer  of  Lincoln  was  captured,  when  an  ambulance, 
drawn  by  four  handsome  mules,  rattled  along  the  road  from 
Surrattsville,  in  Maryland,  toward  Washington.  It  con 
tained  Major-General  Hancock  and  several  officers  of  his 
staff,  Colonels  Tompkins,  Morgan,  Mitchell,  Wilson  and 
Parker.  In  the  confusion  and  terror  which  filled  the  minds 
of  the  friends  of  the  Government,  men  turned  with  firm  trust 
to  Hancock, — next  to  Grant, — as  a  strong  arm  to  lean  upon  ; 
and  a  sense  of  relief  was  felt  throughout  the  land  when  the 
presence  at  the  Capital  of  these  dauntless,  cool-headed 
soldiers  became  generally  known.  As  the  party  journeyed 
along,  they  chatted  of  the  stirring  and  bloody  war  scenes 
they  had  witnessed.  The  great  calamity  that  had  just  be 
fallen  the  country  was,  of  course,  the  leading  topic,  and 
doubt  was  expressed  by  one  or  two  as  to  its  effect  upon 
the  sections  so  lately  estranged.  The  General,  however, 
expressed  his  firm  belief  that  nothing  could  prevent  the  re- 
establishment  of  "  Peace  within  our  borders."  "  The  peo 
ple  have  seen  enough  bloodshed  ;  they  are  tired  of  war  and 
seek  rest,"  said  he.  Just  then,  Colonel  Tompkins,  who  was 
looking  out  over  the  landscape,  and  at  the  distant  dome  of 
the  Capitol  as  it  glowed  in  the  warm  tints  of  the  setting 
sun,  said  to  his  neighbor,  "  Parker,  do  you  see  anything 
peculiar  about  the  sun  ?  " 

That  officer  cast  a  careless  glance  in  the  desired  quarter, 


22O 


FOILING  AN  ASSASSIN. 


and  then  quickly  called  the  General's  attention  to  a  curious 
sight. 

Within  the  blood-red  disc,  now  very  low  on  the  horizon, 
could  be  plainly  seen,  surrounded  by  a  luminous  haze,  the 
outlines  of  a  pair  of  clasped  hands  !  All  saw  it,  and  for  a 
moment  there  was  an  impressive  silence.  As  the  phantom 
shape  slowly  melted  away,  Hancock  said  very  gravely  and 
earnestly,  "  Gentlemen,  that  is  a  happy  omen ;  it  is  the 
sign  of  Friendship.  May  it  come  to  pass  throughout  Our 
Country ! " 


THE  MEDAL  OF  HONOR 


PART    SECOND. 

1866-1886. 

"  O  the  dragoon  bold,  he  scorns  all  care, 
As  he  goes  around  with  his  uncropped  hair ; 
He  spends  no  thought  on  the  evil  star 
That  sent  him  away  to  the  border  war. 

"  His  form  in  the  saddle  he  lightly  throws, 
And  on  the  moonlight  scout  he  goes, 
And  merrily  trolls  some  old-time  song 
As  over  the  trail  he  bounds  along. 

"  O  blithe  is  the  life  that  a  soldier  leads 
When  a  lawless  freedom  marks  his  deeds  ; 
And  gay  his  path  o'er  the  wildwood  sod, 
Where  a  white  man's  foot  hath  never  trod." 


221 


CONFEDERATE   COLORS   CAPTURED  AT  SAILOR'S   CREEK,  VA.,  APR.  6,  l86  = 

WITH    PORTRAITS   OF  THE  CAPTORS    (CUSTER'S   CAVALRY    DIVISION). 

(FROM  A  TINTYPE  THIS  SIZE.) 


222 


BVT.    LIEUT.-COLONEL   TOM   CUSTER, 

LATE    CAPTAIN    JTH    U.    S.    CAVALRY. 


A  BEAU  SABREUR.* 

I  CANNOT  tell  with  what  gratitude  I  embrace  the  op 
portunity  to  add  my  tribute  to  the  valor  of  one  of  the 
soldiers  this  book  seeks  to  commemorate. 

Many  a  woman  adds  to  the  pang  of  bereavement,  the 
sorrow  of  knowing  that  the  grass  has  sprung  up  and  faded, 
for  over  twenty  years,  on  the  graves  of  those  who  saved  to 
us  the  unity  of  our  beautiful  land,  and,  alas !  who  now  lie 
forgotten.  Will  not,  then,  the  hearts  of  many  fill  with 
thankfulness  that  the  brave  deeds  of  those  that  are  gone 
are  here  given  anew  to  their  Country,  and  that  a  monu 
ment  is  raised  to  their  "  loved  and  lost  "  more  lasting  than 
"storied  urn  or  animated  bust?" 

In  New  Rumley,  Ohio,  on  March  15,  1845,  Emanuel  and 

*  This  chapter  is  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  George  A.  Custer. 
223 


224  A  BEAU  SAB REUR. 

Maria  Custer  received  the  gift  of  a  son,  the  third  tie  that 
bound  together  still  more  closely  their  happy  lives.  The 
mother  said  in  after  years,  even  when  pride  for  her  success 
ful  boys  filled  her  heart,  that  no  time  of  her  existence  was 
so  happy  as  when  the  door  of  the  simple  farm-house  shut 
in,  at  dark,  the  little  band  about  her.  The  war-drum  burst 
in  upon  this  contented  home,  and  scattered  her  dear  ones 
far  and  near.  Her  heart  had  grieved  enough  over  the 
departure  of  her  ambitious  eldest,  Armstrong,*  who  had 
implored  his  parents,  four  years  before,  to  let  him  educate 
himself  as  a  soldier.  But  after  he  had  gone,  she  huddled 
the  little  curly-headed  fellows  that  were  left,  more  closely 
about  her,  and  sang  still,  at  her  daily  toil,  for  their  comfort. 
In  1 86 1  peace  departed  from  the  hearth-stone.  The  two 
striplings  began  to  beg  to  go  to  the  war.  They  finally 
agreed  to  be  content  if  one  was  permitted.  Nevin  offered 
himself,  but  was  declined  ;  although  not  an  invalid,  he  was 
delicate.  Then  Tom  rushed  to  get  his  chance,  but  the 
father  had  privately  conferred  with  the  local  recruiting 
officer,  and  Tom  was  refused  as  under  age.  At  last  nothing 
could  keep  him.  He  sought  another  officer  and  was  ac 
cepted  ;  at  sixteen  he  kissed  the  weeping  mother  and  little 
sister  Margaret,  and  was  off  to  the  wars  as  a  private  soldier. 
It  was  all  the  father  could  do  to  keep  the  fourteen-year- 
old  boy,  Boston,  from  going.  Yet  I  hardly  think  the 
parent  blamed  the  sons.  He  was,  from  his  own  boyhood, 
fond  of  "  training-days,"  and  had  put  his  eldest  son,  Arm 
strong,  into  a  uniform  when  he  was  but  a  midget  of  four, 
and  chuckled  and  admired  the  piping  voice  of  the  minia- 

*  The  late  General  George  Armstrong  Custer,  U.  S.  A. 


"OUR  TOM."  225 

ture  soldier  when  he  called  out  a  line  from  the  schoolboy's 
elocution,  that  was  practised  in  the  home  audience — "  My 
Voice  is  for  War." 

The  boy  Tom  was  sent  to  the  Western  army,  and  soon 
selected  as  orderly  for  General  Negley.  When  I  saw  this 
officer,  a  year  ago,  he  went  back  over  twenty  years  and  told  I 
me  what  a  splendid  soldier  he  had  found  our  Tom.  The 
praise  one  brave  man  gives  another,  irrespective  of  station, 
shone  from  his  eyes,  while  he  bore  testimony  in  unstinted 
words  to  the  courage  and  fidelity  of  the  lad.  In  1863,  my 
husband  was  made  a  general  officer,  and  found  his  oppor 
tunity  not  only  to  send  for  his  old  school-mates  and  offer 
them  places  on  his  staff,  but  he  began  to  plan  for  his 
brother  to  be  transferred  from  the  West  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  He  obtained  for  him  a  commission  as  Lieu 
tenant  in  the  6th  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  not  long  after  our 
marriage,  in  1864,  Tom  found  us  in  Virginia  and  became  our 
boy.  The  amount  of  mothering  and  petty  tyranny  I  exer 
cised  was  not  in  proportion  to  my  years,  but  he  submitted 
to  it  all  as  only  brave  and  big-souled  men  can  do  when  as 
sured  of  sincere,  disinterested  affection.  His  manners  and 
self-culture  became  a  serious  study  with  him.  He  not  only 
aimed  to  be  a  perfect  soldier,  but  he  was  determined  to  take 
up  his  studies,  interrupted  by  his  early  enlistment.  Even 
in  those  busy  times  he  bought  himself  school-books,  and 
pored  over  them  with  patience  in  the  evenings.  He 
seemed  to  have  come  through  unscathed  by  the  coarseness 
of  his  surroundings  as  an  enlisted  man  ;  for  though  the  best 
blood  of  our  land  was  often  in  the  ranks,  there  was  a  large 
element  of  lawlessness,  beside,  among  the  soldiers. 


226  A  BEAU  SABREUR. 

THE  YOUNG  AIDE-DE-CAMP. 

As  soon  as  Tom  was  made  aide-de-camp  he  followed  his 
intrepid  brother  in  charges,  and  was  entrusted  with  the  car 
rying  of  important  despatches  and  orders,  which  involved 
caution  in  traversing  the  enemy's  country,  and  reliance  upon 
his  own  judgment.  He  was  invariably  selected  for  the 
hardest  work.  If,  after  a  tumultuous  day,  the  General  and 
his  staff  threw  themselves  down  around  the  camp-fire  to 
sleep  and  were  awakened  by  the  news  that  required  one  of 
them  to  saddle  and  start  off  for  night  duty,  Tom  was  the 
one  selected.  I  never  heard  that  he  even  looked  a  mur 
mur.  I  only  know  that  I  agreed  with  the  staff  when  they 
used  to  say,  "  If  any  one  thinks  it  is  a  soft  thing  to  be  a 
commanding  officer's  brother,  he  misses  his  guess."  If  I 
ever  attempted  to  put  in  a  protest  for  the  nineteen-year- 
old  boy,  my  husband  argued  with  me  that  he  must  watch 
himself ;  that  he  never  made  the  slightest  difference  in  disci 
pline  because  Tom  happened  to  be  his  brother.  If  the  lad 
came  in  our  room  to  report  officially,  the  General  received 
the  Lieutenant  in  the  most  formal  manner,  but  the  moment 
the  business  was  finished,  Tom  flung  aside  his  sword  and 
the  two  fell  to  scuffling,  just  as  they  used  to  in  their  merry 
boyhood  days  on  the  old  farm  in  Ohio. 

Tom  said  little  about  his  determination  to  try  for  medals, 
but  he  was  just  as  eager  for  another,  as  ever,  when  he  had 
taken  his  first  flag  at  Namozine  Church,  April  2,  1865. 
Beside  this,  he  was  inspired  to  try  again,  as  he  found  his 
brother,  after  whom  he  had  modelled  his  life,  was  so  proud 
of  his  achievement.  General  Custer  had  taken  the  first 


AT  SAILOR'S  CREEK. 

Confederate  colors  of  the  war  while  serving  as  aide-de 
camp  on  General  McClellan's  staff,  in  1862. 

General  Capehart,  who  commanded  the  Third  Brigade  of 
the  Third  Division,  saw  Tom  take  his  second  flag  at  Sailor's 
Creek,  April  6,  1865.  I  quote  from  a  recent  letter  he  has 
kindly  sent  me  regarding  that  day:  "  I  saw  your  brother 
capture  his  second  flag.  It  was  in  a  charge  made  by  my 
Brigade  at  Sailor's  Creek,  Virginia,  against  General  Swell's 
Corps.  Having  crossed  the  line  of  temporary  works  on 
the  flank  of  the  road,  we  were  confronted  by  a  supporting 
battle-line.  It  was  from  the  second  line  that  he  wrested 
the  colors,  single-handed,  and  only  -a  few  paces  to  my  right. 
As  he  approached  the  colors  he  received  a  shot  in  the  face 
which  knocked  him  back  on  his  horse,  but  in  a  moment  he 
was  again  upright  in  his  saddle.  Reaching  out  his  right 
arm,  he  grasped  the  flag  while  the  color-bearer  reeled. 
The  bullet  from  Tom's  revolver  must  have  pierced  him  in 
the  region  of  the  heart.  As  he  was  falling,  Captain  Custer 
wrenched  the  standard  from  his  grasp  and  bore  it  away  in 
triumph.  For  intrepidity  I  never  saw  this  incident  sur 
passed." 

Major  Farnham  Lyon,  who  was  a  staff  officer  of  General 
Custer's  at  that  time,  has  written  me  that  he  recalls  Tom's 
charge  over  the  rifle  pits  at  Sailor's  Creek,  and  his  being 
wounded  in  the  cheek.  "  I  know  I  felt  at  the  time,"  he 
adds,  "  that  it  was  a  great  wonder  he  escaped  with  his 
life."  General  Whitaker,  General  Custer's  chief  of  staff, 
bears  testimony  in  a  recent  letter  that  "  Tom,  on  that  day, 
fought  like  a  lion." 


228  A  BEAU  SABREUR. 

A  BATTLE-FLAG  HARVEST. 

Major  Allstrom  of  the  3d  New  Jersey  Cavalry  describes 
to  me  the  melee  in  which  General  Custer's  Division  found 
themselves  after  the  capture  of  nearly  six  miles  of  Con 
federate  trains ;  also  artillery  and  thirty-seven  battle-flags. 
The  confusion  was  great,  and  while  the  firing  was  still  at 
its  height,  he  saw  our  brother  Tom  dashing  past  him,  his 
face  streaming  with  blood  from  the  wound  he  had  received. 
The  flag  he  had  captured  was  flying  out  from  the  standard 
he  still  grasped.  The  Major,  terrified  at  Tom's  temerity  in 
making  himself  so  prominent  an  object  for  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters,  called  out  to  him,  saying,  "  For  God's  sake, 
Tom,  furl  that  flag  or  they'll  fire  on  you."  Major  Allstrom 
has  in  his  possession  a  tintype,*  taken  by  a  camp  photog 
rapher  twenty-one  years  ago,  of  two  rows  of  officers  and 
soldiers,  holding  in  their  hands  the  lances  bearing  the  thirty- 
seven  battle-flags  captured  that  day.  The  men  are  in 
rough  campaigning  dress,  their  weather-beaten  faces  partly 
covered  with  all  sorts  of  slouched  hats,  but  above  their 
brave  heads  is  a  line  of  tattered  bunting  that  had  but  the 
day  before  led  out  the  valiant  South  to  the  last  desperate 
struggle  of  their  waning  cause.  Major  Allstrom  stands 
in  the  front  row  with  his  captured  colors.  On  the  end 
of  the  line,  our  Tom,  holding  a  standard  in  each  hand. 
The  thirty-six  men  were  sent  up  to  Washington  to  present 
in  person  their  flags,  and  receive  the  recognition  Congress 
made  of  their  valor.  I  was  in  the  Capitol  at  the  time  of 

*  This  is  the  original  of  the  engraving  which  faces  the  opening  of  this  chapter 


"I'VE  GOT  MY  FLAG."  229 

their  arrival,  wearily  waiting  for  the  war  to  close.  The 
first  knowledge  I  had  that  the  colors  were  taken  was  the 
sight  of  a  street-car  filled  with  soldiers,  and  with  flags 
streaming  from  every  window  as  the  horses  were  urged 
rapidly  to  the  War  Department.  The  street  gamins  fol 
lowing,  called  out,  "  Hurrah  for  Custer's  soldiers  and  their 
flags!  "  That  was  enough  for  me.  I  instantly  joined  the 
crowd  on  the  walk  and  followed.  On  giving  my  name  at 
Secretary  Stanton's  door,  he  admitted  me,  and  as  each 
soldier  presented  his  flag,  I  was  introduced  to  him  as  the 
wife  of  their  commander  by  Senator  Harris,  of  New  York. 
It  was  a  very  memorable  day  in  my  life,  as  well  as  in  that 
of  the  dauntless  men  who  had  won  distinction. 

My  husband  described  to  me,  as  soon  as  I  saw  him, 
some  of  the  circumstances  of  Tom's  wound.  He  was 
deeply  moved  as  he  talked.  He  said  his  first  knowledge 
that  his  brother  was  shot  was  seeing  Tom  dashing  tow 
ard  him,  covered  with  blood.  The  ball  had  entered  his 
cheek  and  passed  out  behind  his  ear.  Only  a  short  time 
before,  a  favorite  color-bearer,  whom  my  husband  valued 
very  highly,  had  been  wounded  in  the  face,  and  the 
bullet  severed  the  jugular  vein.  He  reeled  in  the  saddle, 
and  was  dead  almost  instantly.  The  General,  seeing  Tom 
similarly  wounded,  was  terribly  startled,  and  expected  that 
in  a  moment  more  the  boy  would  totter  in  his  saddle  and 
his  life  ebb  away.  As  he  reached  him,  Tom  called  out, 
"  Armstrong,  the  d — d  rebels  have  shot  me,  but  I've  got 
my  flag,"  and  instantly  set  spurs  to  his  horse  to  charge  again. 
The  General  checked  him,  and  told  him  to  go  to  the  rear 
and  have  his  wound  dressed.  Evidently  there  was  a  trem- 


230  A  BEAU  SABREUK. 

ble  in  the  elder  brother's  voice,  and  the  younger  was  em 
boldened  to  disregard  the  direction.  He  was  so  full  of 
fight  no  ordinary  request  checked  him.  Then  the  com 
manding  officer's  tone  was  assumed,  and  my  husband,  see 
ing  the  necessity  of  instant  obedience,  ordered  him  in  arrest 
and  to  the  rear.  Poor  Tom,  hearing  the  order,  which  is 
the  extreme  resort  of  military  discipline,  had  nothing  to  do 
but  to  report  to  a  surgeon. 

We  both  felt  immense  pride  in  his  valiant  deed,  and  the 
black  patch,  planted  in  the  midst  of  a  very  new  and  downy 
beard,  was  an  ornament  in  our  eyes  for  all  the  time  it 
covered  his  wound.  I  remember  that  my  husband  was  so 
proud  of  Tom's  medals  that  he  showed  them  to  a  general 
officer,  who  was  our  guest  just  before  the  campaign  in  Da 
kota,  in  1876.  The  officer  was  surprised  to  find  Colonel 
Tom  had  two,  and  told  my  husband,  if  he  had  his  choice,  he 
would  rather  have  a  medal  for  a  flag  than  any  brevet  that 
was  ever  given. 

"  OUR  TOM  "  ON  THE  FRONTIER. 

In  1866,  Colonel  Tom  received  an  appointment  as  lieu 
tenant  to  his  brother's  regiment,  the  Seventh  Regular  Cav 
alry.  He  reported  for  duty  at  Fort  Riley,  Kansas,  and  was 
received  into  our  household  as  one  of  our  family.  From 
that  time  on,  he  was  in  all  the  campaigns  and  engagements 
of  the  regiment.  It  was  an  immense  change  to  come  down 
from  the  position  of  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  the  com 
mander  of  a  division  of  thousands  of  cavalry,  to  the  simple 
humdrum  of  a  lieutenant  of  a  company.  It  was  a  great 
test  of  the  true  metal  of  a  man  to  adapt  himself  to  the  po- 


ON  THE  FRONTIER. 


231 


sition  of  a  subaltern,  after  the  independent  and  important 
duties  with  which  he  had  so  long  been  entrusted  in  the 
exciting  scenes  of  the  war.  Tom's  character  bore  this  test. 
He  was  as  conscientious  and  simple-hearted  in  the  dis 
charge  of  his  company  duty  as  if  he  had  never  known  any 
other  than  that  life.  His  brother,  though  never  relaxing 
the  strictness  of  discipline,  continued  to  place  more  and 
more  important  trusts  in  Tom's  hands,  and  proved,  as  years 
advanced,  that  his  judgment  and  soldierly  abilities  stood 
uppermost  in  his  mind,  even  among  the  tried  and  true  of 
the  Seventh  Cavalry.  In  1874,  while  the  regiment  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Lincoln,  Dakota,  it  became  necessary  to 
attempt  the  capture  of  a  noted  Indian  murderer,  Rain-in-the- 
Face.  Captain  Yates  and  Colonel  Tom  were  selected  to  go 
to  a  post  below  us  on  the  Missouri  River,  and  secure  the 
Indian  as  a  prisoner.  The  story  of  the  capture  which  fol 
lows  has  already  been  told  by  me.* 

"  RAIN-IN-THE-FACE  "   AND   HIS  REVENGE. 

"  In  order,  then,  to  deceive  as  to  the  purport  of  their  ap 
pearance  at  the  Agency,  the  captain  in  command  resorted  to 
a  ruse.  He  sent  fifty  men  to  the  camp,  ten  miles  away,  to 
make  inquiries  for  three  Indians  who  had  murdered  citizens 
on  the  Red  River  the  year  before.  Colonel  Custer  was  or 
dered  to  take  five  picked  men  and  go  to  the  trader's  store, 
where  the  Indians  resort  constantly.  This  required  great 
coolness  and  extreme  patience,  for  they  had  to  lounge 
about,  seemingly  indifferent,  until  they  were  certain  the 

*  "  Boots  and  Saddles,"  by  Mrs.  Custer.    New  York  ;    Harper  Bros. 


232 


A  BEAU  SABREUK. 


right   man   was  discovered.        The  cold  made  the   Indians 

o 

draw  their  blankets  around  them  and  over  their  heads. 
There  is  never  any  individuality  about  their  dress,  unless 
when  arrayed  for  a  council  or  dance ;  it  was  therefore 
almost  impossible  to  tell  one  from  the  other. 

"  Colonel  Tom  had  to  wait  for  hours,  only  looking  fur 
tively  when  the  sharp  eyes  of  these  wary  creatures  were  off 

guard.  At  last  one  of  them 
loosened  his  blanket,  and 
with  the  meagre  descrip 
tion  that  had  been  given 
him,  Colonel  Tom  identified 
him  as  Rain -in -the- Face. 
Coming  suddenly  from  be 
hind,  he  threw  his  arms 
about  him,  and  seized  the 
Winchester  rifle  that  the 
savage  attempted  to  cock. 
He  was  taken  entirely  by 
surprise.  No  fear  showed 
itself,  but  from  the  char 
acteristically  stolid  face 
hate  and  revenge  flashed  out  for  an  instant.  He  drew  him 
self  up  in  an  independent  manner,  to  show  his  brother 
warriors  that  he  did  not  dread  death. 

"Among  them  he  had  been  considered  brave  beyond  pre 
cedent,  because  he  had  dared  to  enter  the  Agency  store  at 
all,  and  so  encounter  the  risk  of  arrest.  The  soldiers  tied 
his  hands  and  mounted  guard  over  him.  About  thirty 
Indians  surrounded  them  instantly,  and  one  old  orator  com- 


"  RAIN-IN-THE-FACE." 


RAIN-1N-THE-FACE.  233 

menced  an  harangue  to  the  others,  inciting  them  to  recap 
ture  their  brother.  Breathless  excitement  prevailed.  At 
that  moment  the  captain  in  command  appeared  in  their 
midst.  With  the  same  coolness  he  had  shown  in  the  war, 
and  during  the  six  years  of  his  Indian  campaigns,  he  spoke 
to  them,  through  an  interpreter.  With  prudence  and  tact 
he  explained  to  them  that  they  intended  to  give  the  prisoner 
exactly  the  treatment  a  white  man  would  receive  under 
like  circumstances  ;  that  nothing  would  induce  them  to 
give  him  up  ;  and  the  better  plan,  to  save  bloodshed,  would 
be  for  the  chiefs  to  withdraw  and  take  with  them  their 
followers.  Seeing  that  they  could  accomplish  nothing  by 
intimidation  or  by  superior  numbers,  they  had  recourse  to 
parley  and  proposed  to  compromise.  They  offered  as  a 
sacrifice  two  Indians,  of  the  tribe,  in  exchange  for  Rain- 
in-the-Face. 

"It  was  generosity  like  that  of  Artemus  Ward,  who  of 
fered  his  wife's  relatives  on  the  altar  of  his  country,  for 
they  took  care  not  to  offer  for  sacrifice  any  but  Indians  of 
low  rank.  Rain-in-the-Face  was  a  very  distinguished  warrior 
among  them,  and  belonged  to  a  family  of  six  brothers,  one 
of  whom,  Iron  Horse,  was  very  influential.  The  officers 
prevailed  in  the  end,  and  the  prisoner  was  taken  to  the 
cavalry  camp.  During  the  time  that  the  Indians  were  op 
posing  his  removal,  the  troopers  had  assembled  around  the 
entrance,  ready  for  any  emergency,  and  prepared  to  escort 
the  murderer  away.  The  Indians  instantly  vanished  ;  all 
went  quickly  and  quietly  to  their  camp,  ten  miles  distant. 
Later  in  the  day,  a  party  of  fifty  mounted  warriors  dashed 
through  the  Agency  to  the  road  beyond,  which  had  to  be 


234  A  BEAU  SABREUR. 

taken  by  our  troopers  on  the  way  home.  Of  course  our' 
officers  expected  an  attack  from  that  party  when  they  be 
gan  their  homeward  march  ;  to  their  surprise,  they  were 
unmolested.  We  learned  afterwards  that  the  mounted  In 
dians  went  to  the  camp  of  Two  Bears  to  urge  the  young 
braves  there  to  combine  with  them  in  the  recapture  of 
Rain-in-the-Face.  Two  Bears  had  long  been  friendly  to 
the  white  man  ;  he  was  too  old  to  fight,  and  prevented 
his  young  men  from  joining  in  the  contemplated  rescue, 

"  After  the  command  had  returned,  and  the  officers  had 
reported,  General  Custer  sent  for  Rain-in-the-Face.  He 
was  tall,  straight,  and  young.  His  face  was  quite  im 
perturbable.  In  a  subsequent  interview  the  General 
locked  himself  in  his  room  with  him.  Through  an  in 
terpreter,  and  with  every  clever  question  and  infinite  pa 
tience,  he  spent  hours  in  trying  to  induce  the  Indian 
to  acknowledge  his  crime.  The  culprit's  face  finally 
lost  its  impervious  look,  and  he  showed  some  agitation. 
He  gave  a  brief  account  of  the  murder,  and  the  next  day 
made  a  full  confession  before  all  the  officers.  He  said 
neither  of  the  white  men  was  armed  when  attacked.  He 
had  shot  the  old  man,  but  he  did  not  die  instantly,  rid 
ing  a  short  distance  before  falling  from  his  horse.  He  then 
went  to  him,  and  with  his  stone  mallet  beat  out  the  last 
breath  left.  Before  leaving  him  he  shot  his  body  full  of 
arrows.  The  younger  man  signalled  to  them  from  among 
the  bushes,  and  they  knew  that  the  manner  in  which  he 
held  up  his  hand  was  an  overture  of  peace.  When  he 
reached  him  the  white  man  gave  him  his  hat  as  another 
and  further  petition  for  mercy,  but  he  shot  him  at  once, 


AN  INDIAN  MURDERER.  2$$ 

first  with  His  gun  and  then  with  arrows.  One  of  the  latter 
entering  his  back,  the  dying  man  struggled  to  pull  it 
through.  Neither  man  was  scalped,  as  the  elder  was  bald 
and  the  younger  had  closely  cropped  hair. 

"  This  cruel  story  set  the  blood  of  the  officers  flowing 
hotly.  They  had  already  heard  from  one  of  the  white 
scouts  a  description  of  P.ain-in-the-Face  at  a  sun-dance, 
when  he  had  betrayed  himself  as  the  murderer  of  the  vet 
erinary  surgeon,  by  describing  in  triumph  his  beating 
out  the  brains  of  the  old  man  with  his  mallet.  After  all 
this,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  each  officer  strode  out 
of  the  room  with  blazing  eyes." 

Two  Indians,  one  of  them  Iron-Horse,  had  followed  the 
cavalry  up  from  the  Agency,  and  asked  to  see  their  comrade. 
The  General  sent  again  for  Rain-in-the-Face.  He  came  into 
the  room  with  clanking  chains  and  with  the  guard  at  his 
heels.  He  was  dressed  in  mourning.  His  leggings  were 
black,  and  his  sable  blanket  was  belted  by  a  band  of  white 
beads.  One  black  feather  stood  erect  on  his  head.  Iron- 
Horse  supposed  that  he  was  to  be  hung  at  once,  and  that 
this  would  be  the  final  interview.  The  elder  brother,  be 
lieving  there  was  no  hope,  was  very  solemn.  He  removed 
his  heavily-beaded  and  embroidered  buffalo  robe,  and  re 
placed  it  with  the  plain  one  that  Rain-in-the-Face  wore. 
He  exchanged  pipes  also,  giving  him  his  highly  orna 
mented  one  that  he  afterwards  presented  to  the  General. 
These  pipes  are  valuable,  as  the  material  of  which  the 
bowls  are  made  has  to  be  brought  from  Kansas.  Then, 
finding  that  there  was  a  prospect  of  Rain-in-the-Face  having 
his  trial  in  Washington,  he  took  off  the  medal  that  had 


236 


A  BEAU  SABREUR. 


been  given  to  his  father  by  a  former  President,  whose  like 
ness  was  in  the  medallion,  and  placed  it  over  the  neck  of 
his  brother,  that  it  might  be  a  silent  argument  in  his  favor 
when  he  confronted  the  "  Great  Father." 

After  his  two  friends  had  left  him,  Rain-in-the-Face  occu 
pied  part  of  the  guard-house  with  a  citizen,  who  had  been 
caught  stealing  grain  from  the  store-house.  For  several 
months  they  had  been  chained  together,  and  used  to  walk 
in  front  of  the  little  prison  for  exercise  and  air.  The 
guard-house  was  a  poorly-built,  insecure  wooden  building. 
After  a  time  the  sentinels  became  less  vigilant,  and  the 
citizen,  with  help  from  his  friends  outside,  who  were  work 
ing  the  same  way,  cut  a  hole  in  the  wall  at  night  and  es 
caped.  He  broke  the  chain  attaching  him  to  the  Indian, 
who  was  left  free  to  follow.  We  found  afterwards  that 
Rain-in-the-Face  did  not  dare  to  return  to  the  reservation, 
but  made  his  way  to  the  hostile  camp.  In  the  Spring  of 
1874  he  sent  word  from  there  by  an  Agency  Indian  that 
he  had  joined  Sitting  Bull,  and  was  awaiting  his  revenge 
for  his  imprisonment. 

In  June,  1876,  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  unaware  of  the  fact 
that  eleven  thousand  Indians  were  encamped  on  and  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  attacked  a  village,  were 
overpowered  with  numbers,  and  Colonel  Tom  fell  beside 
his  dearly  loved  brother.  Rain-in-the-Face,  who  was  in  the 
fight,  sought  out  our  brave  brother  and  wreaked  his  savage 
vengeance  on  the  dead  body  of  one  against  whom  he  had 
so  long  treasured  up  an  injury.  The  vengeance  of  that  in 
carnate  fiend  was  concentrated  on  the  man  who  had  ef 
fected  his  capture.  It  was  found  on  the  battlefield  that 


A  MORTAL  ENEMY. 


237 


he  had  cut  out  the  brave  heart  of  that  gallant,  loyal 
and  lovable  man,  our  brother  Tom  ! 

So  perished  a  gallant,  noble,  tender-hearted  soldier, — a 
devoted  son,  a  faithful,  affectionate  brother,  a  loyal  friend. 

I  cannot  end  this  account  of  our  chivalrous  brother  with 
out  the  brief  testimony  my  husband  gave  of  his  apprecia 
tion  of  Tom.  Just  before  the  last  and  fatal  campaign,  a 
woman  friend  of  ours  in  the  East,  said,  "  Well,  General, 
what  of  Tom  ?  " 

"  If  you  want  to  know  what  I  think  of  him,  all  I  can  say 
is,  Tom  ougJit  to  be  the  General  and  I  the  Captain." 


238 


"  RED   CLOUD." 


RED  CLOUD'S  "  BAPTISM  OF  FIRE/' 

WHEN  the  Emperor  of  the  French,  at  the  opening 
of  the  war,  in  1870,  which  cost  him  an  empire,  dic 
tated  a  dramatic  despatch  containing  the  words  quoted  at 
the  head  of  this  chapter  the  cold  world  laughed  in  its 
sleeve. 

When  the  Indian  chieftain,  "  Red  Cloud,"  at  the  head  of 
thousands  of  brave  warriors,  flung  himself  upon  a  handful 
of  white  men — outnumbered  a  hundred  to  one — and  finally 
withdrew,  baffled,  awe-struck,  and  bleeding,  before  the 
deadly  volleys  from  the  newly-invented  breech-loader,  he 
might,  truthfully,  have  said  to  his  people,  "  We  have  had 
our  baptism  of  fire  !  " 

This  affair  took  place  in  the  Summer  of  1867,  near  Fort 
Phil.  Kearney,  D.  T.  It  was  a  modern  tournament  between 

239 


240 


RED  CLOUD'S  "  BAPTISM  OF  FIRE." 


the  representatives  of  civilization  and  barbarism — science 
and  superstition. 

The  leaders  were  admirable  types  of  their  respective  races. 

Red  Cloud  was  a  Sioux  of  moderate  rank  but  immod 
erate  ambition.  Whea  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  sought  to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  Sioux  to  run  a 
road  through  their  country  to  Montana,  Red  Cloud  refused 
to  sign  the  treaty,  and  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  a  large 
force  of  Sioux  and  Cheyennes,  prepared  to  resist  what 
they  deemed  invasion.  Burning  with  a  desire  for  distinc 
tion  and  accessions  to  his  band,  he  laid  in  wait  near  the  fort 
already  mentioned. 

His  opportunity  came ;  one  day,  when  a  little  party  of 
regular  infantry — fifty-one  men  and  two  officers — marched 
out  from  the  shelter  of  Fort  Phil.  Kearney  into  the 
country  to  protect  a  "  wood  party,"  which,  under  the 
eye  of  a  contractor,  was  cutting  fuel  for  the  use  of  the 
garrison. 

The  commander  of  the  detachment  was  Brevet  Major 
James  Powell,  Captain  2/th  Infantry,  an  officer  of  more 
than  twenty  years'  experience,  in  all  grades,  from  private 
to  captain.  He  was  still  suffering  from  the  effects  of 
wounds  received  in  Georgia  during  the  war,  where  he  had 
won  two  brevets  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services." 

Powell  found  that  the  contractor  had  two  encampments 
of  wood-choppers ;  one  of  these  wras  in  the  centre  of  a  small 
plain,  fairly  adapted  to  purposes  of  defence  and  for  grazing 
the  animals ;  the  other,  a  mile  distant,  on  the  other  side  of 
Little  Piney  Creek,  near  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  Part  of 
the  soldiers  were  detailed  to  protect  the  working  parties 


COLONEL  JAMES  POWELL. 


24I 


and   to  escort  the  wood  trains  on  their  trips  to  and  from 
the  fort. 

Major  Powell  wisely  determined  to  make  the  position  on 
the  plain  as  strong  for  defence  as  possible. 

A  number  of  wagons,  sometimes  called  "  Prairie  Schoon 
ers,"  with  high  bodies  or  "  beds,"  had  been  sent  out  to  haul 
the  wood.  For  this  purpose  the  running  gear  alone  was 
used. 

The    beds    became    of    unexpected    importance.      They 

were  laid  on  the  ground, 

, 
end    to    end,    forming    a 

wooden      fort,     oval     in 

shape  —  thus  :  3Cc.       At 

the  point  on  each  side  of 

this  little  plan  there  was 

one    of    the    wagons    on 

ivheels,  which   contained 

supplies  for  the  use  of  the 

troops — such  as  blankets, 

ammunition    and    tents. 

There      were      fourteen 

empty    wagon-beds,    and 

in    the   wooden    sides    of    each,    holes    were    bored    about 

•eighteen  inches  from  the  bottom,  large   enough   to    admit 

the  barrel  of  a  rifle.     Between  the  wagons  the  spaces  were 

filled  with  any  loose  material  likely  to  stop  a  bullet,  such 

as  sacks  of  forage,   ox-bows,  chains  and  short  logs. 

THE   ATTACK. 

Major  Powell,  having  made  his  preparations  for  defence, 
calmly  awaited  the  attack. 
16 


liVT.    LIEUT.-COLONEL   JAMES    POWELL, 

CAPTAIN    U.    S.    ARMY. 


242  RED-CLOUD'S  "  BAPTISM  OF  FIRE:' 

"  About  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  August  2,  1867, 
two  hundred  Indians  attacked  the  herders  in  charge  of  the 
herd,  driving  them  off;  at  the  same  time,  five  hundred 
attacked  the  train  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  driving  off 
the  men  belonging  there  and  burning  the  wagons."* 

This  double  attack  had  the  effect  to  deprive  the  com 
manding  officer  of  nearly  one-half  of  his  detachment  ;  these 
men,  cut  off  from  the  "  corral "  of  wagon-beds  already 
described,  made  the  best  of  their  way  back  to  the  fort, 
losing  several  of  their  number,  killed  and  wounded. 

At  the  "  corral"  Major  Powell  completed  his  prepara 
tions  for  a  desperate  stand.  On  that  very  ground,  but  a 
few  months  before,  three  officers  and  seventy-six  veteran 
enlisted  men  had  been  killed  in  an  hour  by  the  same  tribe 
of  Indians  which  now,  to  the  number  of  three  thousand 
braves,  hemmed  in  this  little  band  of  twenty-six  soldiers 
and  four  civilians.  So  confident  of  success  were  the  In 
dians  that  they  had  brought  many  of  their  squaws  with 
them  to  assist  in  torturing  the  victims,  and  to  carry  off  the 
plunder.  The  soldiers  were  told  off  to  the  wagons,  which 
were  in  most  cases  covered  with  blankets,  under  which  the 
men  laid  flat.  At  the  "  wagon-on-wheels "  on  one  side, 
Major  Powell  made  his  headquarters,  rifle  in  hand,  while 
Lieutenant  Jenness  occupied  the  other. 

Major  Powell's  parting  injunction  to  his  men,  before  the 
fight  opened,  was,  u  Go  in  there  and  fight  for  your  lives." 
And  well  did  his  men  execute  the  order. 

By  this   time   the   surrounding  hills  were    covered   with 

*  Major  Powell's  Official  Report. 


AN  UNSUCCESSFUL  CHARGE.  24^ 

gayly  painted   savages,   who   awaited  with   impatience   the 
moment  when  the  white  soldiers  should   be   overwhelmed. 
It  was  not  unlike  one  of  the  great  Roman  spectacles  of  the 
time  of  Nero,  when   bands  of  Christians  were  given  over  to 
wild  beasts  in  full  view  of  the  people.     As  the  first   act  of 
the  bloody  drama,  eight  hundred  savage  horsemen  charged 
down  upon  the   silent  little   spot  on  the  plain,  as  if  to  ride 
over  their  prey  and  crush  them  to  death   under  the   hoofs 
of  their  ponies.     On   they  dash,  with   the   speed   and   the 
force  of  a  whirlwind.     As  they  come  within  a  hundred  yards 
of  the  corral  a  sheet  of  flame  darts  out  from   the  wagon 
sides,  followed  by  a  roar,  which  is  kept  up  without  cessation 
for  several  minutes.     Like    dry    leaves    before  a    gust  of 
wind  the  Indians  are   swept    aside  to   the    right  and   left. 
The  front  of  the  legion  has  gone  down  in  its  place — melted 
as  snow  under  the  midday  sun  ;  those  in  rear  are   rallied 
again  and  again,  under  new  leaders,  with  fresh  horsemen, 
but  although  some  get  within  ten  feet  of  the  corral   they 
fall  dead  as  if  by  lightning  stroke.* 

None  can  live  in  the  furnace  blast  which  shrivels  up  group 
after  group  of  the  desperate  assailants.  Red  Cloud,  who 
saw  this  failure  from  a  commanding  crest,  wondered,  and 
secretly  chafed  at  the  discomfiture  of  some  of  his  most 
dashing  lieutenants. 

But  the  success  of  his  whole  campaign  depended  upon 
crushing  this  puny  force — and  that  speedily.  He  deter 
mined  to  pour  his  entire  band,  on  foot,  down  upon  the 
corral. 

*  Major  Powell  says  one  ball  often  penetrated  two  Indians. 


244 


RED-CLOUD'S  "BAPTISM  OF 


Lieutenant  Jenness,  leaving  his  wagon  for  a  moment, 
to  perform  some  duty  or  other,  exposed  himself  to  the 
enemy's  fire  and  was  instantly  killed.  The  firing  had  been 
so  rapid  that  the  barrels  of  the  rifles  became  very  hot,  and 
it  was  difficult  to  handle  them.  The  poor  shots  among 
the  soldiers  were  set  to  work  loading  spare  guns,  and  keep 
ing  the  marksmen  supplied. 

To  make  his  second  attack  overwhelming,  Red  Cloud 
had  circled  the  corral  with  masses  of  Indians,  preceded  by 
a  swarm  of  sharpshooters,  creeping  forward,  dodging  be 
hind  every  stump  or  boulder,  and  hiding  in  the  hollows, 
firing  upon  the  little  garrison  constantly.  The  grand  charge 
which  followed  is  well  described  by  Colonel  Dodge,  U.  S.  A., 
who  afterwards  had  a  talk  with  one  of  Red  Cloud's  sub- 
chiefs,  who  was  wounded  in  the  fight. 

"  But  now  from  the  hills  swarms  a  semicircle  of  warriors, 
at  least  two  thousand  strong,  under  the  leadership  of  the 
gallant  young  nephew  of  Red  Cloud,  anxious  to  signal 
ize  his  valor,  and  to  win  the  right  to  succeed  his  uncle 
as  sub-chief.  When  within  about  five  hundred  yards,  the 
order  to  charge  was  given,  and  the  whole  line  dashed  on  to 
the  corral,  to  be,  when  they  had  almost  touched  it,  hurled 
back  in  confusion  and  dismay.  Again,  and  again  did  the 
gallant  band  rally  and  charge,  only  to  be  again  broken,  dis 
comfited  and  driven  back;  and  it  was  only  after  'three 
continuous  hours '  of  almost  superhuman  effort  against  this 
unseen,  intangible  foe,  that  the  line  became  utterly  demor 
alized,  and  fled  in  consternation  to  the  hills. 

"  When  the  defeated  horde  had  reached  the  safety  of 
he  hills,  they  were  ordered  not  to  fight  any  more,  but  to 


COUNTING  THE  SLAIN.  2A.~ 

recover  the  bodies  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  A  cloud  of 
skirmishers  were  sent  out  to  cover  this  operation,  with 
orders  to  keep  up  a  continuous  fire.  All  the  killed  and 
wounded  nearest  the  hills  were  soon  taken  to  the  rear  and 
cared  for,  but  to  recover  those  nearer  to  the  corral  was  ex 
ceedingly  difficult  and  dangerous.  Taking  one  end  of  a 
long  rope,  formed  by  tying  together  many  lariats,  a  warrior 
ran  out  into  the  open  as  far  as  he  dared,  then  throwing 
, himself  on  the  ground  and  covering  himself  with  a  shield 
of  thick  buffalo  hide,  he  crawled  to  the  nearest  dead  or 
wounded  man  and  fastened  the  rope  around  his  ankles. 
The  men  in  the  woods  at  the  other  end  of  the  rope  then 
pulled  on  it,  and  dragged  the  man  or  body  to  a  safe  place. 
The  rescuing  warrior  then  crawled  backward,  protected  by 
his  shield." 

TREMENDOUS    SLAUGHTER. 

One  of  the  citizens  who  fought  with  Powell  was  a  griz 
zled  old  trapper,  who  had  spent  his  life  on  the  frontier,  and 
been  in  Indian  fights  without  number.  Some  months  after 
the  battle,  the  department  commander  met  and  questioned 
him. 

"  How  many  Indians  were  in  the  attack?  "  asked  the  Gen 
eral. 

"  Wall,  Gin'r'l,  I  can't  say  for  sartin,  but  I  think  thur 
wus  nigh  onto  three  thousand  of  'em." 

"  How  many  were  killed  and  wounded?" 

"  Wall,  Gin'r'l,  I  can't  say  for  sartin,  but  I  think  thur  wur 
nigh  onto  two  thousand  ov  'em  hit." 

"  How  many  did  you  kill  ?  " 


346  RED-CLOUD'S  "  BAPTISM  OF  FIRE." 

11  Wall,  Gin'r'l,  I  can't  say,  but  gi'me  a  dead  rest,  I  kin 
hit  a  dollar  at  fifty  yards  every  time,  and  I  fired  with  a  dead 
rest  at  more'n  fifty  of  them  varmints  inside  of  fifty  yards." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake!  how  many  times  did  you  fire?" 
exclaimed  the  astonished  General. 

"  Wall,  Gin'r'l,  I  can't  say,  but  I  kept  eight  guns  pretty 
well  het  up  for  mor'n  three  hours."  * 

Colonel  Powell  f  writes  (Sept.  20,  1886):  "  In  one  of  the 
charges  on  foot,  the  Indians  came  so  close  that  the  men, 
not  being  able  to  load  their  pieces  fast  enough,  tlireiv  the 
augers  (used  to  bore  the  loopholes)  at  the  savages,  who  in 
turn  threw  them  at  the  soldiers.  The  tops  of  the  wagon- 
beds  were  riddled,  and  after  the  fight  presented  a  very  rag 
ged  appearance,  where  the  enemy's  bullets  had  struck — for 
tunately,  in  most  cases,  above  the  heads  of  my  men. 

"  I  claim  the  credit  of  shooting  Red  Cloud's  nephew  dur 
ing  the  fight,  which  was  over  before  the  troops  came  from 
the  Fort  to  relieve  us.  We  were  very  glad  to  see  them, 
however,  as  we  were  nearly  exhausted,  having  been  fighting 
continuously  from  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  three 
in  the  afternoon." 

The  wounded  Sioux  chief,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
told  Colonel  Dodge,  U.  S.  A.,  that  the  number  of  Indians 
in  the  fight  was  over  three  thousand,  and  that  a  prominent 
"  medicine  man  "  of  the  Sioux  told  him  that  the  total  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded,  of  Indians,  was  eleven  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  ;  which  would  be  at  the  rate  of  one  white  man 
to  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  Indians  !  J 

*  "  Our  Wild  Indians,"  by  Col.  R.  I.  Dodge.     Hartford  :  A.  D.  Worthington  &  Co.    1882. 

t  Major  Powell  was  breveted  Lieut. -Colonel  U.  S.  A.  for  this  fight. — [EDITOR.] 

%  The  troops  lost  one  officer,  and  two  privates  killed,  and  two  private  soldiers  wounded. 


THE  MEDICINE  FIGHT. 


247 


The  Indians  on  the  Plains,  to  this  day,  speak  of  this  con 
flict  as  something  mysterious  and  awful,  and  although  they 
have  since  learned  to  use  breech-loading  arms  as  skilfully  as 
white  men,  yet  the  Sioux  and  Cheyennes  always  speak  of 
the  fight  as  the  Medicine  Fight,  where  the  "Bad  God" 
fought  against  them. 


A    FRIEND    INDEED. 


248 


CAPTAIN    CHARLES    KIT 

UNITED    STATES   ARMY. 


TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 

I.    "A   FRIEND   INDEED." 

SCARCELY  any  savages  have  more  thoroughly  resisted 
every  effort  to  civilize  them  than  the  Apaches.  These 
Indians  accept,  rather  sullenly,  the  beef  and  bread  which 
Uncle  Sam  periodically  issues  to  them  ;  but  when  the  first 
green  blade  shows  itself  above  the  ground,  the  Apache  paints 
his  face,  leaves  his  tall  hat  and  "  store  clothes  "  with  his  dusky 
housekeeper,  mounts  one  of  his  numerous  ponies  and  sal 
lies  forth.  He  carries  the  latest  thing  in  breech-loaders,  the 
newest  patent  in  cartridge  belts,  filled  with  bright  copper 
cartridges,  and  a  pass  from  the  agent  certifying  that  "  the 
bearer,  Victorio,  is  a  good  Indian."  He  proceeds  leisurely 
through  the  country,  with  a  few  boon  companions,  killing, 
burning,  and  laying  waste.  They  are  pursued,  but  so  famil- 

249 


250 


TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 


iar  are  they  with  the  mountains  that  it  is  a  long  chase  and 
a  stern  chase,  indeed,  before  the  last  marauder  is  caught  ; 
and  many  a  gallant  soldier  loses  his  life  in  the  vain  effort 
to  perform  with  one  horse  what  the  Indian  does  not  at 
tempt  without  three  of  the  toughest  beasts  known,  or  if 
necessary  does  easily  on  foot.  The  latest  instance  of  this 
kind  is  the  chase  of  old  Geronimo's  band  in  Arizona  by  that 
gallant  and  lamented  officer,  Captain  Crawford,  of  the  Army. 

By  the  fall  of  1874,  the  Apache  War  in  Arizona  had 
dwindled  to  small  proportions.  For  nearly  three  years 
General  Crook  had  kept  the  entire  Fifth  Cavalry  in  scattered 
detachments,  scouting  through  the  mountains  and  tracking 
the  renegades  to  their  lairs.  Fghting  had  been  incessant, 
the  regiment  had  lost  many  a  valuable  officer  and  man,  but 
not  a  single  fight,  and  when  the  summer  of  '74  was  ushered 
in,  nearly  all  the  once  savage  and  hostile  Apaches  were  hud 
dled  together ;  some  on  a  reservation  far  up  in  the  Verde 
Valley,  while  others  were  similarly  guarded  at  San  Carlos, 
two  hundred  miles  by  the  mountain  trails  to  the  south-east. 
The  little  garrison  of  Camp  Verde  consisted  of  two  troops 
of  the  Fifth  Cavalry,  "  A  "  and  "  K,"  and  two  companies  of 
the  Eighth  Infantry,  all  under  command  of  a  veteran  sol 
dier,  Brevet  Colonel  J.  W.  Mason,  Fifth  Cavalry.  Some 
of  the  cavalry  were  still  out  on  the  inevitable  scout  in  the 
mountains,  to  the  south-east,  but  all  seemed  peaceful  around 
the  post. 

Lieutenant  King,  of  the  Fifth  Cavalry,  was  at  work  mak 
ing  a  survey  of  the  military  reservation,  and  was  riding 
along  with  his  little  party  of  rod-and-chain  men  one  Octo 
ber  afternoon,  when  they  were  startled  by  the  appear- 


THE  ALARM. 


251 


ance  of  some  herders  coming  toward  them  at  full  gallop 
from  the  foot-hills.  They  brought  the  news  that  instead  of 
being  all  driven  off  to  the  south-east  or  into  the  Agency, 
as  was  supposed,  there  was  now  a  band  of  Apaches  raiding 
through  the  valley,  far  above  them,  and  upon  the  very  bor 
ders  of  the  reservation.  Taking  two  of  the  herdsmen  with 
him,  Lieutenant  King  rode  back  to  the  post,  where  Colonel 
Mason  was  speedily  informed  of  the  news.  The  first  thing 


necessary  was  to  communicate  with  the  commanding  officer 
at  the  Apache  reservation,  whose  station  was  twenty  miles 
up  the  valley,  and  the  Colonel  directed  Mr.  King  to  take  a 
fresh  horse,  gallop  to  the  Agency,  confer  with  this  officer, 
who  was  also  acting  as  Indian  Agent,  and  get  twenty 
Apache  scouts  to  accompany  the  troops,  which  the  Colonel 
purposed  sending  out  that  very  night.  Long  before  sun 
set,  therefore,  the  Lieutenant  was  reining  in  his  panting 
horse  before  the  shelter  of  the  spreading  canvas  under 
which  his  regimental  comrade,  Lieutenant  Schuyler,  was 


252 


J^RAILING  THE  APACHES. 


busily  at  work  writing  down  the  statements  of  some 
of  his  own  "  reservation  police,"  who  had  come  in  to 
report  that  they,  too,  had  found  the  trail  of  the  raiding" 
band,  who  had  driven  off  some  fifty  head  of  cattle 
through  the  Red  Rock  country  to  the  north-east. 
Though  some  years  his  junior,  Lieutenant  Schuyler  had 
seen  much  more  service  against  the  Apaches  than  his  friend 
and  ''statesman,"  King  (they  were  both  New  Yorkers), 
for  the  latter  had  been  on  other  duty  until  the  preceding 
winter,  and  Schuyler  had  been  selected  to  command  this 
big  reservation  because  of  his  long  experience  among,  and 
intimate  knowledge  of,  the  Apaches.  Both  of  them  had 
been  in  the  field  commanding  scouting  parties  all  that 
Spring,  however,  and  had  been  usually  successful  in  find 
ing  the  Indians  for  whom  they  were  in  chase.  They  were 
warm  personal  friends  and  generous  rivals.  Here  was 
another  opportunity  for  sharp,  soldierly  work,  a  chase,  a 
battle,  the  recapture  of  the  stolen  cattle  and  the  thrashing 
of  the  Indian  marauders.  General  Crook  was  quick  to 
appreciate  and  reward  zeal  and  dash  in  his  young  officers, 
and  both  King  and  Schuyler  had  already  been  named  by 
him  to  the  President  for  "  brevets  "  for  gallant  conduct  in 
these  conflicts  in  the  Arizona  mountains.  Neither  of  them 
would  stand  in  the  other's  way,  yet  each  was  eager  for  the 
command  of  the  force  to  be  sent,  as  orders  were  given  in 
those  days  "to  pursue  and  punish  "  the  Indians  in  the  case. 
The  moment  Schuyler  caught  sight  of  King,  he  knew  that 
the  story  of  the  raid  had  already  reached  Camp  Verde, 
and  that  it  was  to  be  King's  "  benefit,"  not  his.  All  the 
same,  he  gave  his  comrade  every  assistance,  pointing  out  to 


PREPARING   TO  MOVE.  353 

him  that  so  far  from  being  a  day  old,  as  the  herders  had  re 
ported,  it  must  have  been  three  days  since  the  stock  was 
run  off,  and  the  Apaches  were  by  this  time  well  up  tow 
ards  Snow  Lake  on  the  "  divide  "  of  the  Mogollon.  King 

o  o 

asked  for  some  of  the  scouts  he  had  had  with  him  in  May 
and  June,  but,  as  bad  luck  would  have  it,  they  were  all  out 
with  other  commands,  down  toward  the  Tonto  Basin  to 
the  south-east.  Schuyler  had  nothing  to  give  him  but 
some  Apache-Yumas,  whom  King  had  never  seen,  and  even 
they  were  out  somewhere  on  the  reservation,  and  would 
have  to  be  hunted  up.  At  sunset,  therefore,  King  re 
mounted,  and  with  a  parting  shake  of  the  hand  and  "  Good 
luck  to  you,  Old  Man,"  from  his  brother  lieutenant,  hurried 
back  to  Verde,  pondering  over  in  his  mind  all  that  Schuyler 
had  told  him  about  the  probable  course  taken  by  the  In 
dians,  and  the  best  way  to  nab  them. 

PREPARING   FOR   THE    SCOUT. 

Reaching  Verde  he  found  that  orders  were  already  issued 
by  Colonel  Mason.  Lieutenants  King  and  Eaton,  Fifth 
Cavalry,  with  twenty  men  of  troops  "  K  "  and  "  A,"  and 
a  like  number  of  Indian  scouts  were  directed  to  push  out 
at  dawn,  go  north-eastward,  find  the  trail,  "  pursue  and 
punish  the  Indians."  King  had  a  few  moments'  chat  with 
his  colonel  over  what  Schuyler  had  told  him,  and  then  went 
off  to  see  the  veteran  packer,  Harry  Hawes,  who  was  to  go 
with  the  mule  train.  It  was  estimated  they  might  be  gone 
ten  or  twelve  days,  and  already  the  men  were  drawing  from 
the  commissary  store-house  their  supplies  of  bacon,  flour, 
coffee,  sugar  and  "  hard-tack,"  while  from  the  ordnance  of- 


254 


TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 


fice  were  lifted  out  two  solid,  heavy  little  boxes,  painted  a 
dark  olive  green  and  labelled,  "  1000  Rounds — Springfield 
Carbine  Ball  Cartridge — Calibre  45."  There  was  no  telling 
how  much  of  that  sort  of  thing  they  would  need  in  addition 
to  the  supply  each  officer  and  man  carried  on  his  person  in 
the  handy  "  thimble  belt."  Lieutenant  Eaton  was  quarter 
master  of  the  post  at  the  time,  and  ordinarily  would  not  be 
detailed  for  such  duty  as  scouting,  but  here  was  a  chance 
of  finding  the  Indians  close  at  hand,  and  having  the  fight 
over  and  done  with  in  less  than  a  week,  so  he  wanted  to  go, 
and  received  the  Colonel's  permission. 

Busily  at  work  among  the  soldiers  was  an  Irish  sergeant, 
between  whom  and  the  cavalry  officers,  and  even  men,  there 
was  a  deep  respect  and  esteem.  He  bore  the  name  of 
BERNARD  TAYLOR,  was  called  "  Barney "  by  the  troopers 
when  off  duty,  but  respectfully  addressed  as  "  Sergeant "  at 
all  other  times.  Both  King  and  Eaton  knew  him  well.  He 
had  been  in  many  a  scout  and  skirmish  with  the  regiment, 
and  was  hailed  as  a  daring,  resolute,  intelligent  man,  and  a 
non-commissioned  officer  of  high  merit.  He  had  not  waited 
for  Lieutenant  King's  return  from  his  forty-mile  ride,  but 
had  everything  in  readiness  to  report  to  him  on  his  arrival. 
The  horses  had  been  carefully  inspected,  and  both  they  and 
the  mules  were  re-shod  where  the  shoes  were  worn  to  any 
extent.  This  is  an  imperative  precaution  over  the  Arizona 
mountain  trails — there  is  no  rougher  country  in  the  world. 
By  ten  P.M.  everything  was  ready  but  the  scouts.  They 
had  not  appeared,  and  as  the  lieutenant  knew  he  would 
have  no  great  difficulty  in  overtaking  the  Indians  during 
the  week,  burdened  as  they  were  by  slow-moving  cattle  and 


SUSPICIO  US  ALLIES.  2  ^ 

compelled  to  follow  the  beaten  trails,  he  was  well  content 
with  the  Colonel's  orders  to  let  the  men  have  a  few  hours' 
sleep  before  starting.  It  was  his  purpose  to  push  up 
Beaver  Creek  in  the  dark,  and  scale  the  mountains  from  its 
head-waters,  hiding  in  the  cafions  by  day  and  continuing  on 
the  chase  at  night,  so  that  his  coming  would  be  unperceived 
even  by  the  wariest  of  Apache  eyes.  Late  at  night  the 
Apache-Yumas  came  riding  down  from  the  reservation,  and 
reported  to  Lieutenant  King  at  his  quarters.  He  and  Eaton 
looked  them  over  by  lantern  light  and  shook  their  heads. 
"  No  good,"  said  Eaton.  There  were  fifteen  of  them,  under 
the  leadership  of  a  couple  of  petty  chiefs.  An  interpreter 
came  who  said  that  Lieutenant  Schuyler  wanted  the  horses 
returned  at  once.  They  had  only  been  lent  to  hurry  them 
down.  No  mountain  Apaches  ever  did  their  scouting  ex 
cept  on  foot,  and  the  first  thing  these  fellows  did  was  to  de 
mand  that  the  horses  be  kept  for  their  benefit.  Being  re 
fused,  they  began  to  grumble  and  then  to  demand  supper, 
and  were  finally  marched  off  to  the  command  in  a  sullen 
mood. 

"  I'll  bet  a  hat,"  said  Sergeant  Taylor,  as  he  watched 
them  talking  in  low  tones  among  themselves,  "  those  beg 
gars  know  just  who  the  renegades  are  and  don't  want  to  go 
and  help  find  them." 

At  the  first  gray  of  dawn  the  little  command  was  ready 
to  start. 

FRONTIER   UNIFORM. 

Let  us  inspect  these  frontier  soldiers.  We  look  in  vain, 
with  our  civilized  eyes,  for  the  "  pomp  and  circumstance  " 


256 


TRAILING   THE  APACHES. 


which  one  associates  with  a  "regular"  in  the  East — at 
Washington  or  New  York.  Where  are  the  plumes  and 
pipe-clay?  where  the  dazzling  brasses  and  the  faultless  cut 
of  the  company  tailor?  A  search  in  the  men's  lockers 
would  doubtless  reveal  them,  snugly  packed  away  for  the 
next  garrison  duty.  But  here  another  garb,  a  combination 
of  experience  and  the  old-clothes'  bag,  is  the  correct  thing. 
We  may  perhaps  except  the  detachment  commander.  His 
clothes  are  not  shabby  ;  and  he  can't  help  being  neat,  even 
when  on  a  "  scout."  From  the  top  of  his  low-crowned, 
feather-weight,  drab,  felt  hat  to  the  dark-blue  flannel  shirt, 
fastened  at  the  neck  with  a  knotted  silk  handkerchief,  and 
the  small  soft  gauntlet  which  he  twirls  restlessly  in  one 
hand,  the  artist  as  well  as  the  campaigner  stands  out  ;  he  of 
all  the  party  wears  closely-fitting  cavalry  breeches,  boots, 
spurs,  and  a  cartridge-belt  well  filled  ;  an  "  officer's  rifle " 
completes  a  picturesque  and  useful  outfit. 

Standing  by  his  horse,  a  little  apart  from  the  men,  is 
an  admirable  specimen  of  the  Irish-American  soldier.  Of 
medium  stature,  very  powerfully  built,  with  a  frank,  bronzed 
face,  bright  blue  eyes  and  close-cut  auburn  hair  and  mus 
tache  (marked  in  the  descriptive  list  as  "sandy  "),  Sergeant 
Bernard  Taylor  of  the  Fifth  Horse  would  at  a  glance  be 
picked  out  as  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  party.  His  cos 
tume,  although  hardly  as  natty  as  that  of  his  superior,  is 
not  less  adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  service.  A  gray  felt 
sombrero,  with  upturned  brim,  is  clapped  well  down  on  his 
head,  with  a  gentle  inclination  over  the  right  eyebrow ;  a 
faded  lead-colored  flannel  shirt,  open  at  the  neck,  gives  a 
glimpse  of  a  red  undershirt  ;  a  plains-man's  home-made 


SERGEANT  TAYLOR'S  OUTFIT, 


257 


cartridge-belt,  bristling  with  metallic  ammunition,  encircles 
his  waist,  with  a  revolver  on  one  side,  balanced  on  the 
other  by  a  keen-bladed  hunting-knife  ;  buckskin  breeches, 
and  well-greased  cowhide  boots,  with  huge  rowelled  Mexi 
can  spurs,  make  up  the  Sergeant's  equipment.  The  short- 
limbed,  compactly-built,  California  horse,  standing  quietly 
at  his  elbow,  looks  fit  for  any  emergency,  and  has  more  than 
once  shown  a  clean  pair  of  heels  to  the  enemy,  when  discre 
tion  on  his  rider's  part  has  been  the  better  part  of  valor  ; 
the  McClellan  saddle,  stripped  of  every  ounce  of  unneces 
sary  leather,  and  planted  well  forward  on  the  neatly  folded 
blanket,  the  snug  sack  of  barley,  like  a  small  section  of 
stove-pipe  resting  behind  the  cantle  of  the  saddle,  the 
extra  girth, — all  these  are  signs  that  mean  business. 

The  rest  are  more  or  less  similarly  accoutred.  Hardly  a 
forage  cap,  not  a  sabre,  nor  a  letter  or  number  to  tell  to 
what  particular  regiment  of  Uncle  Sam's  retainers  these 
bandit-like  horsemen  belong. 

Fording  the  Verde,  they  pushed  rapidly  up  the  valley 
of  Beaver  Creek,  and  at  night  were  dragging  their  horses 
after  them  in  a  tough  foot-climb  up  the  jagged  steeps  of 
the  Mogollon.  Long  before  midnight  the  Indians,  who 
ought  to  have  served  as  guides,  had  dropped  hopelessly 
behind.  "  Tired  out,"  they  said,  and  yet,  when  they  want 
to,  any  one  of  them  can  out-last  the  stoutest  mountaineer 
on  a  tramp.  King,  Eaton  and  Sergeant  Taylor  led  the 
way  up  the  heights  or  down  through  the  dark  ravines, 
guided  only  by  the  stars,  and  when  dawn  of  the  second 
day  arrived  they  halted,  tired  and  foot-sore,  far  up  in 
the  range,  and,  they  believed,  undetected. 
17 


258 


TRAILIA^G  THE  APACHES. 


One  thing  had  occurred  to  confirm  the  suspicions  of 
Sergeant  Taylor.  Climbing  up  out  of  a  deep  gorge  they 
came,  just  before  daybreak,  to  a  point  from  which  they 
could  see  the  range,  far  away  northward,  and  there,  stand 
ing  boldly  out  among  the  eastern  cliffs  of  the  reservation, 
casting  its  glare  miles  to  the  eastward,  but  hidden  from  the 
west,  was  a  huge  signal  fire,  a  warning  to  the  enemy  that 
the  soldiers  were  coming.  King  sent  back  to  the  rear  for 
his  scouts  and  silently  pointed  to  the  distant  blaze  as  they 
were  finally  huddled  before  him.  One  and  all  they  denied 
all  knowledge  of  it,  but  declared  they  could  not  keep  up — 
"  Soldiers  go  too  fast."  Warned  that  the  first  one  caught 
at  anything  that  might  betray  the  presence  of  the  com 
mand  would  be  summarily  shot,  they  were  herded  down  to 
the  next  ravine,  where  the  day  was  spent  in  resting  in  con 
cealment. 

The  next  night  the  command  marched  rapidly  through 
a  wild  and  beautiful  table-land,  far  up  in  the  mountains, 
among  pine,  juniper  and  scrub  oak.  Here  nothing  could 
keep  the  Indians  along  with  the  column.  Two  of  them 
swore  they  were  sick,  and  both  the  officers  felt  certain  that 
they  knew  the  troops  were  rapidly  nearing  the  position  of 
the  "  hostiles,"  and  dared  not  be  with  them.  One  of  them 
was  so  cold  and  abject  an  object  that  the  Lieutenant  or 
dered  him  to  mount  a  spare  mule.  He  did  so,  fell  asleep, 
rolled  off  and  nearly  cracked  his  skull.  Eaton  picked  him 
up,  unconscious,  and  plastered  the  crack  as  well  as  he  could 
by  starlight,  and  then,  leaving  the  Indian  in  charge  of  two 
of  his  demoralized  comrades,  the  little  column  pushed 
ahead.  When  they  reached  the  banks  of  Snow  Lake,  far 


A  HOT  TRAIL. 


259 


up  on  the  plateau,  only  nine  of  the  scouts  were  left.  Two 
had  deserted  and  gone  no  one  knew  whither. 

The  actions  of  the  entire  gang  were  so  unlike  those  of 
all  the  other  scouts  with  whom  the  two  officers  had  dealt 
in  the  past  that  they  became  thoroughly  distrustful  of 
them.  They  kept  protesting  to  Lieutenant  King  that  no 
Apaches  could  be  in  the  vicinity,  but  their  very  volubility 
convinced  him  they  were  lying,  and  excited  his  wrath.  It 
had  grown  sharply  cold  so  far  up  among  the  mountains,  that 
the  water  froze  in  the  canteens  at  night,  and  the  Indians 
complained  bitterly  of  the  hardships.  But  on  the  dawn 
of  October  31,  King  and  Sergeant  Taylor,  scouting  out 
in  front,  came  upon  recent  Apache  signs  in  the  sand  of  a 
little  gully  ;  more  than  that,  they  were  soon  on  the  track  of 
the  captured  cattle.  That  very  evening,  down  in  a  broad 
depression,  they  came  in  sight  of  the  chase,  and,  leaving 
their  skulking  allies  to  look  out  for  themselves,  the  little 
troop  rode  headlong  down  the  slopes,  and  while  some 
"rounded  up"  the  frightened  cattle,  King,  Eaton  and 
most  of  the  men  rushed  on  in  pursuit  of  the  Apaches,  who 
had  scattered  into  the  hills.  Darkness  put  an  end  to  that, 
however,  and  they  had  to  wait  until  the  scouts  came  up. 

Leaving  a  guard  with  the  cattle,  King  and  his  men 
again  set  forth  about  nine  P.M.,  and  found  themselves, 
about  one  in  the  morning,  in  the  defile  known  as  Sunset 
Pass,  where  they  bivouacked  for  the  night.  Their  orders 
were  to  "  pursue  and  punish."  They  had  pursued,  but  up 
to  this  moment  had  inflicted  no  punishment.  Both  officers 
were  confident  that  they  would  find  the  Apaches  lurking 
in  the  mountains  north  or  south  of  the  Pass,  and  were  de- 


26o  TRAILING   THE  APACHES. 

termined  to  have  it  out  with  them  ;  but  the  scouts  pro 
tested  that  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  the  Tontos  must  have 
doubled  on  their  track  and  gone  back  towards  Snow  Lake. 
At  dawn,  King  ordered  them  out  to  search  the  neighbor 
hood  for  signs.  They  were  in  a  rocky  ravine,  through 
which  there  trickled  a  tiny  stream  that  formed  little  pools 
here  and  there,  from  which  they  watered  their  horses. 
South  rose  a  rugged  mountain,  covered  with  tangled  shrub 
bery  and  boulders.  Northward  lay  another,  and  between 
them  curled  and  twisted  the  old  trail  leading  to  the  Sunset 
Crossing  of  the  Colorado  Chiquito,  twenty  miles  away. 
The  Indians  sullenly  obeyed,  but  huddled  nervelessly  to 
gether,  making  only  faint  pretence  of  search,  and  inces 
santly  protesting,  "  No  Tonto  here." 

"  THICK   AS   LEAVES." 

Suddenly  there  came  a  shout  from  down  the  ravine. 
Some  of  the  men,  in  hunting  about,  had  come  finally  on 
a  pool  with  sandy  shores,  and  there,  thick  as  leaves, 
were  the  fresh  prints  of  Tonto  moccasons.  The  scouts 
were  fairly  driven  to  the  spot  by  the  officers,  and  con 
fronted  with  the  evidences  of  their  worthlessness.  Then 
came  the  hurried  consultations.  It  was  evident  that  after 
filling  their  water-vessels  the  Tontos  had  taken  to  the 
mountains,  south  of  the  Pass,  and  King  determined  to  fol 
low  at  once.  Eaton,  with  the  main  body,  was  ordered  to 
remain  a  short  distance  in  rear,  while  the  commander,  with 
Sergeant  Taylor,  should  force  the  scouts  ahead  and  find 
the  trail  up  the  rocky  slopes.  White  men  could  not  do  it 
unaided,  and  there  were  a  dozen  ways  in  which  the  Indians 


"HEAP  TONTO  SIGN."  26l 

might  have  gone.  Damning  them  for  their  cowardice  and 
treachery,  King  warned  the  scouts  that  they  might  expect  a 
shot  from  either  himself  or  Taylor  if  they  lied  again,  or 
dered  them  out  in  dispersed  line  across  the  slope,  and  then, 
pointing  upward,  gave  the  word  "  Ugashe "  (go  ahead), 
and  he  and  Taylor  followed  at  their  heels. 

The  ardent  officer  soon  found  himself  and  the  Sergeant 
far  in  advance  of  the  more  slowly  moving  detachment.  In 
a  few  minutes  both  stood  upon  a  great  flat  rock,  jutting 
out  from  the  precipice,  and  covered  with  huge  boulders, 
relics  of  some  early  upheaval  ;  above  them,  the  great  cliff 
reared  its  forbidding  front,  black  and  seamed  with  the 
storms  of  ages ;  below,  the  mountain  side  fell  away  in 
mingled  forest  and  ravine  and  rushing  torrent. 

Looking  around  for  some  outlet  to  the  spot,  for  he  was 
convinced  the  hostiles  were  lurking  near,  the  Lieutenant 
sent  the  Sergeant  in  one  direction,  while  he  cautiously  glided 
into  the  underbrush  in  an  attempt  to  flank  the  position.  A 
moment  later  something  whizzed  by  his  head  and  buried 
itself  deep  in  a  tree.  He  had  found  the  hornet's  nest  !  In 
another  moment  he  felt  a  sharp  burning  sensation  as  an 
other  dart,  better  aimed,  cut  through  the  muscles  at  the 
outer  corner  of  his  left  eye  and  flew  down  toward  the  cow 
ardly  scouts,  who,  at  the  sound  of  the  first  arrow,  had  taken 
to  their  heels. 

A  HORNET'S  NEST. 

To  jump  behind  a  convenient  rock  was  but  the  work  of  a 
moment  for  the  bleeding  but  not  seriously  injured  officer. 
With  carbine  at  "  ready,"  he  eagerly  watched  for  the  game. 


262  TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait.  Another  arrow  sped  by  his  head 
from  the  left,  and  like  lightning  his  rifle  was  at  his  shoulder; 
a  sharp  report  followed,  and  one  of  two  dark  forms  crouch 
ing  in  his  front  dropped  out  of  sight.  Ere  he  could  reload, 
a  volley  came  from  the  same  direction,  his  carbine  dropped 
from  his  hand,  and  his  right  arm,  pierced  by  a  bullet,  hung 
nerveless  by  his  side,  while  down  the  wounded  limb  the 
warm  life-blood  poured. 

In  such  situations  men  must  think  quickly.  He  must 
run  for  it.  Could  he  hold  out  until  he  reached  his  men, 
whom  he  knew  were  even  then  springing  forward  to  his 
relief?  All  this  passed  through  the  gallant  fellow's  mind, 
in  a  second.  In  another  he  was  springing  down  the  side  of 
the  hill  with  the  yelling  red  devils  after  him,  but  moving 
more  slowly,  as  they  did  not  expect  any  friends  in  that 
direction. 

The  breathless  and  fast  weakening  soldier  hardly  needs  the 
obstruction  of  a  tough,  clinging  vine  to  send  him  headlong 
eight  or  ten  feet  down,  where,  bruised  and  nearly  senseless, 
he  lies.  But  one  thought  is  uppermost.  They  shall  not 
take  him  alive  without  another  shot.  He  fumbles  for  his 
revolver  and — what  is  that  ?  Upon  his  ear  comes  a  familiar 
sound.  It  is  the  Sergeant  calling  his  name.  "  Lieutenant ! 
Lieutenant !  where  are  ye  ?  " 

"  Here  !  Sergeant,"  faintly  replies  the  wounded  man. 

The  Sergeant  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance.  In  a  mo 
ment  he  had  picked  up  his  officer  (who  held  on  with  one  arm 
round  the  soldier's  neck)  and  was  getting  over  the  ground 
in  true  mountaineer  fashion. 

When  King  fell,  the  Apaches  for  a  few  moments  lost  his 


SA  VING  HIS  OFFICER  'S  LIFE.  26l 

"^       «J 

trail,  but  now  they  came  tearing  after  the  fugitives.  Every 
few  yards  Sergeant  Taylor  would  stop  and  send  a  reminder 
from  his  carbine  that  his  arms  were  all  right,  and  twice  a 
Tonto  measured  his  length  on  the  rocks.  But  the  gallant 
Irishman  was  getting  winded,  and  King,  fearing  that  both 
would  lose  their  lives,  urged,  implored,  ORDERED  his  com 
panion  to  leave  him  and  save  himself. 

But  the  Sergeant  was  not  that  sort  of  man  !  To  leave 
any  white  human  being — much  less  the  officer  whom  he 
loved  and  respected — to  the  mercy  of  those  howling  fiends 
was  not  to  be  thought  of  for  an  instant.  He  knew  what 
that  meant, — death  by  torture,  with  which  the  cruelties  of 
the  Spanish  Inquisition  pale  by  contrast.  The  shots  now 
came  more  frequently,  they  came  closer,  and  arrows  mingled 
with  the  leaden  shower. 

At  last,  just  as  Sergeant  Taylor's  strength  has  nearly 
given  out  with  the  weight  and  the  pace,  sounds  of  crashing 
bushes  and  excited  voices  are  heard,  and— 

"  Here  come  the  boys,  sir  !  "  is  the  welcome  shout  which 
rings  in  the  Lieutenant's  ear  as  he  loses  consciousness. 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  affair  is  over.  Several  of  the 
Apaches  have  gone  to  the  happy  hunting-grounds  of  their 
people,  and  the  command  is  resting  in  a  picturesque  nook. 
Lieutenant  King's  wound  is  not  beyond  the  rough  surgery 
of  old  campaigners,  of  whom  there  are  not  a  few  in  the 
command.  Fortunately,  the  ball  had  avoided  the  arteries 
and  the  bones.  Cold-water  applications,  careful  bandaging, 
some  strong  coffee,  and  as  soft  a  bed  of  blankets  as  could 
be  made,  went  far  towards  bracing  the  disabled  cavalryman 
for  the  ride  back  to  his  post.  And  although  suffering 


264 


TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 


much,  the  first  thing  he  did  upon  his  arrival  was  to  dictate 
an  official  report,  in  which  Sergeant  Taylor's  conduct  came 
in  for  conspicuous  mention  and  recommendation  to  the 
military  authorities.  None  realized  better  than  the  Lieu 
tenant  that,  but  for  Taylor's  pluck  and  perseverance,  to 
some  other  pen  would  have  fallen  this  professional  duty. 

It  was  for  this  act  of  daring  and  devotion   that   Sergeant 
BERNARD  TAYLOR  was  named  for  and  awarded  the  Medal 


of  Honor,  and  in  the  skirmish  up  the  height  Corporal 
BRYAN  SMITH  and  Private  FRANK  BIFFAR  were  named  for 
conspicuous  conduct. 

Taylor  was  a  typical  Irishman,  brave,  intelligent,  full  of 
high  spirit  and  pride  in  his  regiment. 

He  was  a  fine  rider,  a  quick  shot,  a  gallant' and  enthusias 
tic  trooper,  and  never  more  thoroughly  in  his  element  than 
in  the  rough  mountain  scouting,  in  which  the  Fifth  spent 
so  many  stirring  years.  Poor  fellow  !  he  lived  only  a  few 


DECORATED  AA'D  DESERVING. 


265 


brief  months,  and  died  at  Verde,  just  before  the   regiment 
started  on  its  homeward  march. 


SERGEANT   JOHN    NIHII.L, 

FIFTH    U.    S.    ARTILLERY. 


II.  THREE   TO   ONE. 

Frequently  the  force  sent  after  the  hostile  Indians  is 
small,  but  that  it  gains  in  quality  what  it  lacks  in  quantity 
appears  from  the  story  of  Private  JOHN  NlHILL,  "  F,"  5th 
U.  S.  Cavalry,  a  soldier  who  won  a  Medal  of  Honor  for  his 
good  conduct  in  the  Whetstone  Mountains,  Arizona,  July 
13,  1872,  and  upon  other  occasions. 

He  has  since  become  a  sergeant  in   Battery  "  B,"  5th  U. 


•fc 


?§«,. 


266 


SERGEANT  NIH1LL  'S  ADVENTURE. 


267 


S.  Artillery,  and  at   the    Editor's  request  gives  the   follow 
ing  account  of  one  of  his  adventures  :* 

"  During  the  Summer  of  1872,  the  troop  to  which  I  then 
belonged  ('  F,1  Fifth  Cavalry)  was  stationed  at  Camp 
Crittenden,  A.  To,  which  at  that  time  was  the  most  ex 
treme  Southern  post  in  Arizona.  The  post  was  situated' 
at  the  base  of  the  Santa  Rita  Mountains,  which  at  that 
time  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Chiricahua  Apaches,  in 
their  raids  through  Southern  Arizona. 

"In  the  Summer  of  1872,  the  Apaches  committed  more 
depredations  in  the  vicinity  of  Camp  Crittenden  than  in 
any  other  part  of  the  territory,  and  we  were  poorly  pre 
pared  to  return  the  compliment,  having  only  the  one  troop 
at  the  post,  three-fourths  of  whom  were  sick  with  chills  and 
fever,  and  unable  to  perform  any  duties,  so  that  a  sufficient 
force  could  not  be  sent  out  against  them,  to  punish  them  in 
their  favorite  haunts.  Still,  Lieutenant  Hall,  the  post  com 
mander,  did  all  that  possibly  could  be  done,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  to  afford  protection  to  the  settlers  in  the  vi 
cinity  of  the  post. 

"  Indian  alarms  were  daily  occurrences,  so  that  it  was  noth 
ing  new,  when,  on  the  morning  of  July  13,  1872,  a  Mexican 
ranchman,  who  lived  about  two  miles  from  the  post,  came 
in  at  daylight  and  reported  that  during  the  night  a  party 

*  MEDALS  WON  BY  SERGEANT  JOHN  NIHILL,  "  B,"  sth  U.  S.  ARTILLERY.  (See  Portrait.} 
The  medals  on  the  right  and  left,  respectively,  of  the  Medal  of  Honor  are  <i)  the  De 
partment  of  the  East,  "  Skirmisher  Medal,"  and  (2)  Division  of  the  Atlantic,  "  First  Silver 
Medal,"  won  at  Creedmoor,  Sept.,  1885.  The  medal  under  the  first  named  is  (3)  the 
"  Battery  Medal,"  to  be  won  three  years  in  succession  before  becoming  the  property  of 
the  winner;  won  successively  1884,  1885  and  1886  by  the  wearer.  The  medals  under  the 
Medal  of  Honor  are  (4)  a  "  Marksman's  Pin  "  and  (5)  a  "  Sharpshooter's  Cross."  The  one 
on  the  left  of  the  cross  is  (6)  the  Division  of  the  Missouri  "  Silver  Medal,"  won  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Sept.  27,  1882.  (For  Nihill's  Certificate  of  Merit,  see  p.  266.) 


268  TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 

of  Indians  who  had  a  lot  of  stolen  cattle  in  their  posses 
sion  had  passed  by  his  ranch  at  a  quick  gait.  Immediately 
a  detail  of  eight  men,  including  the  First  Sergeant,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Hall,  started  in  pursuit. 

"The  trail  was  found  within  600  yards  of  the  post,  and  as 
it  had  been  raining  the  day  before,  the  ground  was  soft, 
so  that  there  was  little  difficulty  in  following  it  while  in 
the  open  country. 

"  The  trail  headed  towards  the  Whetstone  Mountains, 
which  were  distant  about  fifteen  miles,  south-east  from  the 
post. 

"  We  travelled  as  rapidly  as  the  nature  of  the  ground 
would  permit,  hoping  to  overhaul  them  before  they  reached 
the  mountains. 

"  Several  times  the  trail  was  lost,  owing  to  it  leading  over 
rough,  rocky  ground,  but  as  the  majority  of  us  had  more  or 
less  experience  in  trailing,  we  would  soon  recover  it  again. 

"  When  we  reached  the  mountains  our  progress  was  nec 
essarily  slow,  as  the  Indians  had  in  several  instances  split 
up,  so  as  to  throw  us  off  the  trail,  but  they  invariably 
came  together  again  at  some  given  point. 

"  Late  in  the  afternoon  we  passed  some  cattle  that  the  In 
dians  abandoned  in  a  deep  ravine,  as  they  were  thoroughly 
exhausted  and  unable  to  travel  any  farther.  This  caused 
us  to  make  as  much  haste  as  possible,  as  we  knew  they 
would  strike  into  some  of  the  deep  caftons  in  the  moun 
tains,  where  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  follow  them. 

"  About  two  miles  from  where  we  passed  the  cattle,  the 
trail  led  into  a  deep  caflon,  where  we  had  the  greatest  dif- 


MOUNTAIN  FIG  HIDING. 


269 


ficulty  in  following  it,  and  then  could  only  do  so  by  dis 
mounting  and  leading  our  horses. 

"  We  had  advanced  in  this  manner  about  one  mile  into  the 
cafion,  when  we  were  suddenly  attacked  by  about  forty 
Indians,  who  were  concealed  behind  rocks  on  one  side  of 
the  canon,  and  about  800  feet  above  us.  The  side  of  the 
ravine  where  the  Indians  had  taken  up  their  position  was 
almost  vertical,  so  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  a 
shot  at  them. 

"  At  the  time  the  Indians  made  the  attack  I  was  following 
the  trail  of  some  who  had  gone  up  the  opposite  side  of  the 
cafion.  I  was  about  75  or  100  yards  to  the  right  of  and  in 
advance  of  the  rest  of  the  party.  I  took  up  a  position  be 
hind  a  small  tree,  which  had  a  fork  about  five  feet  from  the 
ground  ;  in  this  fork  I  rested  my  carbine  to  steady  it.  I 
watched  for  every  opportunity  to  fire  at  an  Indian,  but 
they  were  so  well  concealed  behind  rocks  that  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  catch  more  than  a  fleeting  glance  of 
them,  as  they  ran  from  one  position  to  another. 

"  During  this  time,  some  of  Lieutenant  Hall's  party  were 
wounded,  as  also  some  of  his  horses,  and  to  make  matters 
worse,  the  Indians  commenced  to  roll  rocks  down  from 
the  top  of  the  cliffs  ;  these  came  down  with  such  force  and 
noise  that  the  horses  became  almost  unmanageable. 

"  It  was  then  that  Lieutenant  Hall  made  up  his  mind  to 
retreat,  and  gave  the  men  orders  to  do  so,  the  First  Sergeant 
and  himself  taking  the  post  of  danger,  in  rear,  and  giv 
ing  the  wounded  men  the  chance  to  get  out  first. 

"  When  the  order  was  given  to  retreat  I  was  watching 
a  chance  to  get  a  shot  at  an  Indian  who  was  dodging  behind 


2/0 


TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 


the  rocks  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  canon.  I  did  not  no 
tice  that  I  was  being  left  behind  until  my  party  had  got 
a  considerable  distance  ahead  of  me. 

"  However,  I  started  to  catch  up  to  them.  I  was  dis 
mounted,  with  the  bridle-rein  over  my  arm,  and  my  car 
bine  in  readiness  for  whatever  might  turn  up.  After  I  had 
gone  about  300  yards  I  was  fired  at  by  an  Indian,  but  the 
gun  (a  muzzle-loader)  missed  fire,  and  before  he  could  make 
a  second  attempt  I  fired  and  dropped  him. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  three  others  rushed  down  the  side  of 
the  canon,  with  the  intention  of  cutting  me  off  from  the 
remainder  of  my  party.  One  of  these  stopped  long  enough 
to  shoot  at  me,  but  missed,  and  I  returned  his  fire,  and  was 
fortunate  enough  to  bring  him  down  also.  The  other  two 
concealed  themselves  behind  rocks,  directly  in  front  of  me. 
I  turned  my  horse  loose,  and  drove  him  ahead  to  try  and 
draw  the  fire  of  the  Indians.  I  moved  about  30  or  40  yards 
to  the  right  of  my  horse,  making  as  little  noise  as  possible ; 
when  my  horse  got  within  about  30  yards  of  them,  they 
came  crawling  around  the  rocks  to  the  side  where  they  were 
exposed  to  me,  and  just  as  soon  as  they  discovered  me  I 
fired,  killing  one  ;  the  other  jumped  into  a  ravine  and  I 
saw  him  no  more.  I  kept  on  and  rejoined  my  party,  who 
were  waiting  at  the  mouth  of  the  canon. 

"  We  marched  that  night  to  old  Camp  Wallen,  an  aban 
doned  post  on  the  south  side  of  the  Whetstone  Mountains, 
on  a  tributary  of  the  San  Pedro  River.  We  made  the 
wounded  as  comfortable  as  the  circumstances  would  permit, 
and  next  day  marched  back  to  Camp  Crittenden. 

"  A  few  days  afterwards  we  went  back  with  all  the  men 


THREE  TO  ONE. 


271 


that  could  be  spared   from   the  post,  but  did  not  find  any 
Indians. 

"  In  the  latter  trip,  Lieutenant  Stewart  went  along. 
About  one  month  afterwards  he  was  killed  in  Davidson's 
Canon,  with  Corporal  Black,  while  going  in  with  the  mail  to 
Tucson,  and  in  a  short  time  afterwards  Sergeant  Stewart, 


Corporal  Nation,  and  Privates  Carr  and  Walsh,  were  killed 
about  two  miles  from  the  post,  in  the  Sonoita  Valley. 

"  The  Indians  got  to  be  so  bad  that  when  we  went 
to  *  stables,'  morning  and  evening,  we  took  our  arms 
along  and  kept  them  in  the  stalls  while  grooming. 

"The  post  was  abandoned  in  January,  1873,  and  all  the 
property  removed  to  New  Camp  Grant,  where  we  took  post." 

Corporal  Nihill's  account  is  corroborated  by  the  following 
extract  from,  the  official  report  of  Lieutenant  W.  P.  Hall, 
Fifth  Cavalry : 


272  TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 

"  On  the  1 3th  of  July,  1872,  I  was  in  command  of  a 
party  of  eight  men  of  Troop  '  F,'  Fifth  Cavalry,  and  fol 
lowing  a  fresh  Indian  trail,  which  led  into  a  deep  canon 
in  the  Whetstone  Mountains,  .Arizona  Territory.  My 
party  was  attacked  by  about  forty  Indians,  who  were  con 
cealed  behind  rocks.  Private  Nihill  was  a  flanker  to  my 
party  and  about  200  yards  on  my  right  ;  four  Indians  en 
deavored  to  cut  him  off  from  the  rest  of  the  party,  who 
were  unable  to  go  to  his  assistance  ;  his  horse  was  badly 
wounded  ;  he,  however,  made  his  way  through  them,  kill 
ing  three  Indians.  He  brought  out  his  horse,  and  acted 
throughout  in  a  gallant  and  praiseworthy  manner." 

III.    THE  APACHE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1885. 

The  following  is  the  statement  of  Private  SYLVESTER 
GROVER,  Troop  "  C,"  4th  Cavalry,  who  received  a  Certifi 
cate  of  Merit  for  the  affair  which  is,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
related  in  his  own  words  : — 

"  In  October,  1885,  I  was  stationed  at  Lang's  Ranch,  N. 
M.,  directly  on  the  line  of  the  Pan  Handle  of  New  Mexico 
and  the  Mexican  State  of  Chihuahua.  On  the  Qth  of  that 
month  I  was  ordered,  with  Private  Hickman,  Troop  'F,' 
4th  Cavalry,  to  carry  despatches  which  had  arrived  from 
Captain  Crawford,  in  Mexico,  to  General  Crook,  at  Fort 
Bowie,  A.  T. 

"  We  left  about  1 1  o'clock  A.M.  and  put  up  for  the  night 
at  a  ranch  about  forty  miles  from  our  starting-point. 

"  Next  morning,  before  daybreak,  we  started  off,  and  trav 
elled  at  good  speed  towards  Cow  Boy  Pass.  The  country 
through  which  we  passed  is  perfectly  level,  except  piles  of 


PRIVATE  GROVER'S  "CLOSE  CALL."  ^-- 

rocks  called  Mai  Fais,  with  which  the  plain  is  covered  and 
through  which  the  road  winds.  None  of  these  piles  are 
more  than  the  height  of  a  man  and  horse,  and  we  had  a 
good  view  of  the  country  around  us  and  had  no  idea  that 
any  hostile  Indians  were  in  the  vicinity,  as  the  last  we  heard 
of  them  located  them  below  the  National  Boundary. 

"  About  9  o'clock,  A.M.,  while  passing  near  one  of  these 
rock  piles,  we  were  suddenly  fired  upon  by  about  fourteen 
Indians,  who.  upon  delivering  the  fire,  suddenly  rose  up 
around  us. 

"  Hickman  fell  at  once  from  his  horse,  dead,  as  I  found  out 
afterwards.  My  horse  dashed  away  with  me  and  got  about 
five  hundred  yards  when  he  fell  dead.  I  dragged  myself 
from  the  saddle,  got  the  despatches  out  of  the  saddle-bags, 
and  with  my  carbine  crawled  to  a  pile  of  rocks  about 
twenty  yards  off. 

"  I  could  see  part  of  the  Indians  chasing  Hickman's  horse, 
and  the  rest  followed  me  up  on  foot. 

"  I  opened  fire  on  them  at  once,  and  held  them  at  bay. 
They  did  not  know  that  I  was  wounded,  and  to  that  fact 
I  undoubtedly  owe  my  life. 

"After  the  Indians  caught  Hickman's  horse  they  all  made 
a  break  at  me.  I  fired  as  fast  as  my  wounds  would  let  me, 
and  at  last  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  leave 
toward  the  mountains,  which  gave  me  a  chance  to  look  at 
my  wounds.  I  found  that  I  was  shot  through  the  fleshy 
part  of  the  thigh,  below  the  hip,  and  through  the  left  wrist 
and  hand. 

"  For  over  two   hours   and  a  half  I  was  lying  under  a 

burning   sun,  without  water,  and    I   felt   that   my  last  mo- 
18 


274  TRAILING  THE  APACHES. 

ments  were  coming,  when  I  saw  a  wagon  approaching. 
With  it  were  seven  citizens,  some  of  whom  were  discharged 
Government  scouts  and  packers. 

"  I  called  out  as  well  as  I  could,  and  managed  to  make 
them  hear  me  at  last.  They  stopped,  brought  me  water, 
washed  my  wounds,  and  made  me  as  comfortable  as  possi 
ble,  and  brought  me  to  the  Post  Hospital,  at  Fort  Bowie. 

"  Hickman  was  shot  in  seven  places.  The  Indians  did  not 
mutilate  his  body,  only  took  off  his  belts. 

"  My  horse  was  shot  four  times,  one  shot  passing  through 
his  body. 

"  I  have  since  recovered  entirely  from  my  wounds,  and, 
through  the  recommendation  of  my  captain,  have  been 
awarded  a  *  Certificate  of  Merit  '  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States." 


This  is  a  short,  concise  statement  of  the  affair,  which  was 
really  very  desperate.  The  man  is  very  quiet  and  modest, 
and  not  inclined  to  talk  much  about  it,  and  does  not  think 
that  there  was  very  much  in  it.' 

The  affidavits  which  accompanied  the  recommendation 
give  more  of  the  latter  part,  after  the  citizens  came  up. 

Grover  is  about  twenty-seven  years  old  and  has  been  a 
soldier  about  seven  years. — [EDITOR.] 


SERGEANT   JOHN    HARRINGTON, 

THIRD    U.    S.    CAVALRY. 


A  SPARTAN  BAND.* 

THE  year  1874  was  an  eventful  one  in  the  history  of 
the  border.  The  Cheyennes,  resident  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  the  most  warlike  and  powerful  of  the  south 
western  Indians,  had  for  a  long  time  been  restive,  and  as 
soon  as  the  grass  had  sufficiently  matured  to  subsist  their 
ponies,  many  of  the  younger  warriors  of  the  tribe,  thirsting 
for  blood  and  glory,  formed  themselves  into  bands  and  set 
forth  upon  predatory  incursions  into  Southern  Kansas  and 
Colorado. 

With  their  faces  painted,  dressed  in  barbaric  costumes, 
and  mounted  on  fleet  ponies,  these  parties  penetrated  Kansas 
to  the  northern  part  of  the  Arkansas  River,  poured  into 

*  This  chapter  has  been  contributed  by  Captain  J.  S.  Payne,  U.  S.  A.  (late  sth  U.  S. 
Cavalry),  who  participated  in  the  Indian  campaign  of  1874,  and  is  familiar  with  the 
episodes  described. 

276 


IN  THE  INDIAN  TERRITORY. 


277 


south-eastern  Colorado,  and  swarming  about  the  defiles  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  lighted  their  camp-fires  almost  at 
the  entrance  to  the  famous  Raton  Pass.  They  killed  cattle, 
stole  horses  and  mules,  burned  ranches,  and  when  they 
returned  to  their  villages,  there  to  narrate  their  exploits  to 
the  squaws  and  old  men,  more  than  one  brave  carried  at 
his  girdle  the  reeking  scalp  of  a  hated  "  pale  face."  Of 
course  this  whetted  the  savage  appetite,  and  the  warlike 
feeling  soon  manifesting  itself  amongst  the  neighboring 
tribes,  the  Kiowas,  Comanches  and  Arapahoes,  a  general 
Indian  war  resulted.  In  August,  a  large  force  of  cavalry 
and  infantry,  under  the  command  of  General  Nelson  A. 
Miles,  then  colonel  of  the  5th  Infantry,  was  assembled  at 
Camp  Supply,  Indian  Territory,  which  point  it  left 
the  iQth  of  that  month  ;  its  object  being  the  pursuit, 
capture,  or  defeat  of  the  large  Indian  force  that,  as  had 
been  ascertained  by  scouts,  was  at  that  time  located  some 
where  near  the  Antelope  Hills,  on  the  banks  of  the  Cana 
dian  River.  The  Summer  of  1874  was  intensely  warm,  and 
no  rain  had  fallen  throughout  that  region  since  early  Spring, 
so  that  the  streams,  even  the  large  ones  that  traversed  the 
Indian  Territory  and  the  "  Pan  Handle  "  of  Texas,  were 
dry,  or  nearly  so.  The  troops  and  animals,  in  consequence, 
suffered  greatly  from  thirst,  but  the  column  was  pushed 
steadily  on,  until,  after  many  a  weary  march  through  chok 
ing  alkali  dust  and  beneath  the  fierce,  pitiless  rays  of  a 
southern  midsummer  sun,  a  broad  Indian  trail  was  struck 
on  the  Sweetwater  and  relentlessly  followed.  Our  march 
on  the  2Qth  of  August  was  long  and  toilsome,  but  when 


278 


A  SPARTA 2V  BAND. 


evening  came  we  saw  the  promise  of  success  before  us.  We 
had  crossed  the  wide  flat  plateau  south  of  Ash  Creek,  and 
had  reached  its  southern  border,  where  it  broke  off  into 
ravines,  deep  valleys  and  precipitous  knolls,  covered  with  rich 
verdure.  Just  as  the  long  column  was  about  to  descend 
into  the  valley  below,  and  as  our  eyes  were  resting  with  a 
keen  sense  of  pleasure  upon  this  picturesque,  involuted 
landscape,  brightened  and  beautified  by  the  last  rays  of  the 
rapidly  sinking  sun,  great  clouds  of  dust  arose  before  us, 
and  we  knew  that  at  last  our  game  was  within  reach. 

We  camped  in  the  valley  that  night,  and  early  next 
morning,  near  Red  River,  defeated  them  with  loss  in  war 
riors  and  camp  equipage,  and  pursued  them  to  the  far 
famed  Llano  Estacado,  or  Staked  Plain  of  Texas.  We  had 
been  marching  in  light  order,  and  now  awaited  the  arrival 
of  our  supply  train.  Having  remained  in  camp  until  the 
7th  of  September,  and  without  news  from  our  train,  it  be 
came  evident  that  the  savages  had  cut  our  line  of  communi 
cation,  and  consequently  the  command  was  forced  to  retrace 
its  steps.  The  loth  found  us  in  camp  on  McClellan  Creek, 
and  here  an  event  occurred  so  well  indicating  the  boldness 
and  skill  of  an  Indian  warrior,  that  I  must  ask  leave  to 
place  it  on  record  in  this  place.  The  troops  were  en 
camped  among  several  knolls  that  overlooked  the  valley  of 
the  creek  I  have  named.  The  tired  horses  were  out  graz 
ing  on  the  rich  bunch-grass  growing  on  the  hill-sides,  and  as 
the  command  was  dependent  upon  game  for  subsistence 
several  large  parties  were  out  hunting  buffalo,  which  were 
numerous  in  that  country  at  the  time. 


PE  TIT  JOHN  SCALPED. 


A   BOLD    EXPLOIT. 

About  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  whilst  a  number  of 
officers  were  seated  upon  the  top  of  a  knoll,  some  one  had 
called  attention  to  two  soldiers  who  were  just  leaving 
camp,  mounted,  en  route  up  the  valley,  and  the  remark  had 
just  been  made  that  it  was  dangerous  for  so  small  a  party 
to  leave  the  command,  when  a  body  of  mounted  men  sud 
denly  appeared  upon  a  high  hill,  further  up  the  stream. 
They  disappeared  almost  instantly,  and  whilst  we  were 
discussing  the  question  whether  they  were  Indians  or  a 
hunting  party  of  soldiers,  our  attention  was  again  attracted 
to  the  two  soldiers  before  mentioned,  who  had  now  pro 
ceeded  to  a  point  some  five  hundred  yards  from  camp. 
The  point  of  a  bluff  ran  quite  close  to  the  creek  at  the  spot 
the  two  soldiers  then  were,  the  valley  narrowing  to  a 
hundred  yards  or  less.  Just  as  the  leading  man  was  about 
to  turn  the  spur  of  the  bluff,  an  Indian,  mounted  on  a  gray 
pony,  was  seen  by  us  —  though  unseen  by  the  soldier  —  com 
ing  at  full  speed  around  the  point.  He  was  followed  at 
short  distances  by  several  others.  There  was  no  time  to 
give  warning.  In  a  moment  the  leading  warrior  was 
around  the  bluff,  and  raising  his  rifle  he  fired  upon  the  ad 
vancing  trooper,  breaking  the  latter's  right  arm.  The  brave's 
lance  was  instantly  in  rest,  and  rushing  upon  his  helpless 
foe,  he  ran  him  through,  hurled  him  from  his  horse,  and, 
dismounting,  tore  away  the  bleeding  scalp  of  his  victim,  and 
flaunting  it  in  our  very  faces,  mounted  and  was  gone.  The 
other  soldier  had  only  his  revolver,  which  he  emptied  with 
the  effect  to  keep  the  other  savages  at  bay.  Pursuit  was 


28o  A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

made,  of  course,  but  so  weary  were  our  animals  it  was  un 
availing,  and  poor  Petit  John  was  unavenged. 

From  the  camp  on  McClellan  Creek,  General  Miles  found 
it  necessary  to  send  despatches  to  Camp  Supply,  and  for  this 
important  mission  a  select  party  of  six  men  was  detailed. 
It  comprised  the  following  soldiers  of  the  6th  Cavalry : 
Sergeant  Z.  T.  WooDALL,  Privates  JOHN  HARRINGTON, 
PETER  ROTH,  and  GEORGE  W.  SMITH,  of  troops  "  I," 
"  H,"  "  A,"  and  "  M,"  respectively,  and  Citizen  Scouts  WlL- 
LIAM  DIXON  and  AMOS  CHAPMAN.  The  enlisted  men 
wore  the  summer  scouting  uniform,  light  blue  trowsers 
re-enforced  with  white  canvas,  dark  blue  flannel  shirt,  soft 
black  felt  hat,  and  top  boots.  Their  blouses  and  overcoats 
were  rolled  on  their  saddles,  and  they  carried  neither  shelter 
tents  nor  blankets.  Dixon  and  Chapman  were  dressed  in 
buckskin  trowsers,  ornamented  with  fringe,  dark  flannel 
shirts  with  sailor  collars,  and  each  wore  moccasons  and 
broad-brimmed  white-felt  hats.  Every  man  carried  rifle, 
revolver  and  two  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  ;  a  hunting- 
knife  stuck  in  each  man's  belt.  The  duty  demanded  cool 
ness  and  courage,  and  braver  men  were  never  selected  for 
desperate  service.  The  country  was  infested  by  savages. 
They  were  to  be  looked  for  at  every  stream  ;  every  clump 
of  trees  might  be  an  ambuscade  ;  in  every  ravine  danger 
and  sudden  death  might  lurk.  But  these  brave  fellows, 
fully  realizing  their  peril,  received  their  final  orders, 
mounted  their  good  horses  and  cheerily  set  forth,  followed 
by  the  best  of  wishes,  and  at  the  same  time  the  feelings  of 
deepest  apprehension,  entertained  by  their  comrades  and 
officers. 


S/X  G ALLAN?  CAl'ALlhRS.  28l 

The  red  September  sun  was  still  shining  across  the  gentle 
undulations  of  the  prairie  as  the  party  left  camp,  but  it 
soon  sank  in  gorgeous  splendor  behind  the  purple  hills,  and 
the  sombre  shades  of  night  fell  softly  upon  the  vast  plain. 
Deep  down  in  the  darkening  shadows  of  the  great  cotton- 
wood  trees  that  fringed  McClellan  Creek  rode  our  brave 
adventurers  ;  not  foolhardy,  reckless  men,  but  each  confident 
of  himself  and  of  his  companions,  and  resolutely  prepared 
to  encounter  every  danger.  After  several  hours'  march  the 
party  camped  for  the  night,  and  at  early  dawn  were  again 
in  the  saddle.  Between  the  rising  and  the  setting  sun  of 
the  nth  they  travelled  nearly  fifty  miles,  and  when  over 
taken  by  darkness  sought  a  secluded  spot  for  the  night. 

And  now,  before  daylight  of  the  I2th,  our  troopers  are 
again  on  their  way,  riding  swiftly  across  the  great  plain. 
The  morning  star  has  sunk  to  the  very  verge  of  the  hori 
zon  and  shines  there  like  a  ball  of  silver  ;  the  stars  over 
head  are  beginning  "  to  pale  their  ineffectual  fires  "  before 
the  rising  sun,  whose  advent  is  heralded  in  the  east,  first 
by  a  faint,  uncertain  glow,  followed  by  rosy  gleams  of 
brightness.  Then  the  clouds  take  to  themselves  the  gor 
geous  tints  of  the  morning,  increasing  in  beauty  until  a 
flood  of  primrose  radiance  pours  upon  the  scene,  and  then, 
sending  forth  in  advance  long  shafts  of  light,  the  Day-god 
leaps  above  the  horizon,  and  soars  aloft  in  luminous  splen 
dor.  The  dew-drops  glisten  like  diamonds  ;  all  is  quiet, 
serene  and  beautiful  in  that  great  solitude.  Not  much  is 
said  by  the  members  of  the  party  as  they  speed  along,  for 
at  such  times  men  are  not  much  given  to  speech.  Nothing 
is  heard  save  the  steady  tramp,  tramp  of  the  horses'  feet, 


282  A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

pressing  the  dewy  sward,  the  occasional  rattle  of  carbine 
against  stirrup  or  saddle,  or  the  sweet  note  of  lark  or 
thrush. 

"FRIENDS   OR   FOES?" 

On,  on  they  ride,  now  descending  into  an  arroya,  where 
all  surrounding  objects  are  hidden  from  view,  now  ascend 
ing  an  acclivity,  now  crossing  a  divide,  and  again  straight 
as  the  crow  flies,  traversing  a  dead  flat.  Every  eye  is  on 
the  lookout,  every  ear  alert,  yet  no  sound  has  disturbed 
them,  no  suspicious  object  has  been  seen.  But  they  are 
riding  into  the  toils,  and  one  of  them  is  going  to  his  death. 
The  dew  on  grass  and  flower  was  dry,  and  the  sun  was  float 
ing  two  hours  above  the  sea  of  grass,  when,  as  the  party 
ascended  a  slight  eminence,  Chapman,  whose  eye  was  like 
an  Indian's,  said,  "  Boys,  we  are  in  luck  ;  there  is  the  advance 
guard  of  the  wagon  train,"  and  he  pointed  to  the  north 
east,  where  there  was  soon  disclosed,  to  the  full  view  of  the 
whole  party,  a  number  of  horsemen.  They  were  riding  in  a 
body,  and  it  was  this  circumstance  that  induced  the  belief 
that  they  were  soldiers. 

But  the  meeting  so  soon  to  take  place  was  not  destined 
to  be  of  the  friendly  and  agreeable  kind  anticipated.  The 
practised  eyes  of  Chapman  and  Dixon,  ever  on  the  alert, 
soon  saw,  from  certain  movements  amongst  the  advancing 
party,  that  they  were  Indians,  and  as  Indians,  at  that  time 
and  place,  meant  deadly  enemies,  everything  was  got  ready 
for  the  approaching  combat.  A.  brief  halt  was  made,  arms 
and  ammunition  carefully  examined,  and  saddle  girths 
looked  to.  The  advance  guard  of  the  Indians,  for  such 


READY  FOR   THE  FRAY. 


283 


turned  out  to  be  the  party  first  discovered,  was  now  fol 
lowed  by  a  much  more  numerous  body,  which  deployed  to 
the  right  and  left  of  the  trail.  They  were  now  within 
half  a  mile,  and  as  they  rode  forward  in  the  sunlight  it  was 
easy  to  distinguish  their  brightly  colored  blankets  and 
their  war-bonnets,  whose  long  trailing  plumes  of  eagles' 
feathers  floated  softly  on  the  breeze.  Indeed,  they  pre 
sented  at  this  moment  a  striking  and  beautiful  barbaric 
picture  that  our  soldier  friends,  however,  had  neither  the 
time  nor  inclination  to  admire.  The  point  where  the  In 
dians  were  encountered  was  midway  between  Gageby 
Creek  and  the  Washita  River,  Texas.  The  country  in  the 
vicinity  was  high,  undulating  prairie,  presenting,  however, 
few  spots  suitable  for  defence.  Hills  and  valleys  followed 
each  other  in  succession,  and  here  and  there  was  an  arroya 
or  ravine,  affording  some  slight  cover.  Timber  there  was 
none,  and  whatever  position  the  little  band  of  white  men 
might  take  would  be  open  to  assault,  front,  flank,  and  rear, 
as  well  as  exposed  to  fire  from  every  direction  at  long  range. 
But  they  were  ready  for  the  fray,  and  right  nobly  on  this 
September  day  did  they  maintain  the  high  reputation  of 
their  race  for  heroic  courage  and  patient  fortitude  in  the 
face  of  what  seemed  to  them  inevitable  death.  Capture 
meant  torture,  and  of  course  there  was  no  word  or  thought 
of  surrender.  Escape  was  impossible,  so  with  brave  hearts 
these  gallant  men  went  to  the  encounter.  And  now  that 
the  moment  of  conflict  has  come  I  will  let  one  of  the  par 
ticipants  in  this  memorable  border  fight  (Private  Harring 
ton)  tell  the  story  in  his  own  way. 

He  says:  "  Between  us  and  the  Indians  was  a  good-sized 


284 


A  SPARTAN  BAND. 


ravine,  to  which  we  advanced  and  rode  into,  they  being 
still  on  the  opposite  side.  We  had  scarcely  time  to  dis 
mount  and  leave  the  horses  in  charge  of  Smith,  before  they 
were  on  us  from  all  sides ;  we  sought  what  shelter  we  could 
on  the  sides  of  the  ravine,  and  while  we  were  doing  so, 
Smith  was  shot  through  the  arm,  compelled  to  abandon 
the  horses,  and  join  us.  About  twenty-five  Indians  then 
charged  down  the  ravine  and  stampeded  our  horses,  taking 
all  but  one.  Concluding  that  things  were  getting  too 
warm  for  us  and  that  we  would  have  to  find  some  better 
position,  we  formed  a  skirmish  line  and  fell  back,  the  one 
horse  left  by  the  Indians  following  us.  An  Indian  at 
tempted  to  capture  him,  when  Sergeant  Woodall  turned 
and  fired,  and  the  Indian  fell. 

"  We  again  retreated  in  skirmish  line,  receiving  their  fire 
from  all  directions.  Whenever  we  attempted  to  secure  a 
knoll  or  other  vantage  ground,  the  Indians  would  be  ahead 
of  us  in  such  numbers  as  to  make  us  change  our  direction. 
None  of  us  even  expected  to  get  out  of  the  fray  alive,  with 
such  fearful  odds  against  us,  but  all  determined  to  die  hard 
and  make  the  best  fight  possible.  We  continued  our  skir 
mishing,  and  whenever  a  shelter  was  secured,  took  what 
little  rest  we  could  until  driven  out  by  renewed  attacks. 

"  At  every  halt,  the  Indians,  dismounted,  would  surround 
us,  closing  in  from  all  sides.  The  '  medicine  man,'  deco 
rated  with  buffalo  horns  and  an  immense  head-dress  of  eagle 
feathers  reaching  to  his  horse's  tail,  looking  like  the  Devil 
himself,  tried  to  force  them  to  charge  over  us ;  each  time 
as  they  circled  in  to  within  about  twenty-five  yards,  we 
would  jump  up,  yell,  and  run  toward  those  in  our  rear. 


WITCHING  HORSEMANSHIP.  285 

The  Indians  could  not  fire  for  fear  of  hitting  their  own 
party,  but  would  open  out  and  allow  us  to  pass  through 
their  line,  firing  at  us  as  we  went  through. 

"  It  seems  almost  impossible  that  we  should  have  received 
their  fire,  as  long  as  we  did,  without  serious  injury  ;  but  it 
could  not  go  on  so  forever.  We  kept  up  these  tactics 
until  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  '  medicine 
man,'  now  the  only  mounted  one  of  their  party,  kept  riding 
around  us  all  the  time,  getting  bolder  and  firing  his  pistol 
when  he  came  in  range.  Chapman,  the  scout,  said  '  not  to 
mind  him,  for  he  couldn't  hit  anything,'  but  at  last  he  came 
within  about  twenty  yards,  when  Scout  Dixon  fired  at  him, 
after  which  we  saw  no  more  of  the  bold  *  medicine  man.' 

"  By  this  time  we  were  about  fagged  out,  and  our  ammu 
nition,  of  which  we  had  two  hundred  rounds  per  man  in 
the  morning,  nearly  exhausted.  Determining  to  make 
one  last  stand,  we  broke  for  a  small  knoll  on  the  top  of 
which  was  a  buffalo  wallow.  While  attempting  to  gain  this 
position,  Smith  was  again  shot  and  fell,  mortally  wounded. 
Woodall  was  shot  in  the  groin,  and  I  in  the  hip.  All 
gained  the  knoll  but  Smith." 

WITCHING   HORSEMANSHIP. 

Sergeant  Woodall  writes  (from  his  station,  Fort  Cum- 
mings,  N.  M.,  August  I,  1886)  of  the  clever  tactics  of  the 
Indians,  as  follows  :  "At  this  stage  we  were  eye-witnesses 
to  some  of  the  most  magnificent  feats  of  horsemanship  that 
could  not  be  equalled  by  any  like  number  of  men  in  the 
world, — rising  readily  from  the  stirrups  while  the  horses 
were  in  rapid  motion,  and  standing  erect  on  the  backs  of  their 


286  A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

animals  while  they  delivered  their  fire,  and  then  instantly 
dropping,  as  if  shot,  into  the  stirrups,  swinging  tnemselves 
rapidly  under  their  horses'  bellies,  in  which  position  they 
could  easily  aim  and  fire.  These  tactics  were  continued 
by  them  for  some  time.  There  was  one  spot  on  the  prairie 
where  the  grass  stood  over  five  feet  high.  Toward  this 
place  the  Indians  would  ride  as  fast  as  their  ponies  could 
go,  and  I  noticed  every  time  any  of  the  men  fired  at  an 
Indian  near  this  place  the  latter  would  drop  as  if  hit,  while 
their  ponies  would  continue  on  until  finally  caught  by  some 
of  the  squaws.  Fully  twenty  of  them  dropped  in  this  man 
ner,  leading  us  to  believe  that  they  were  all  hit.  Nothing 
more  was  seen  of  them  for  about  an  hour,  during  which  our 
attention  was  engaged  in  an  opposite  direction  by  another 
party  of  Indians,  who  repeatedly  charged  us,  eventually  forc 
ing  us  from  our  position.  In  moving  to  higher  ground  we 
approached  the  bunch  of  tall  grass,  before  referred  to,  near 
which  we  had  seen  so  many  Indians  drop.  We  got  within 
fifty  yards  when  a  line  of  Indians  suddenly  sprang  up,  pre 
senting  as  good  a  skirmish  line  as  any  body  of  soldiers 
could  form,  and  poured  a  murderous  fire  on  the  party,  kill 
ing  Smith  and  severely  wounding  Amos  Chapman,  Har 
rington  and  myself." 

CHAPMAN'S  HEROISM. 

Once  within  the  slight  protection  of  the  buffalo  wallow 
a  moment's  respite  came.  It  was  now  known  that  Woodall, 
Harrington,  and  Roth  had  been  wounded,  and  Smith,  who 
had  fallen  outside,  was  thought  to  be  dead.  In  a  little 
while,  however,  he  was  seen  to  move,  and  these  brave  men 


CHAPMAN  TO  77/£  A'£SCC>'£. 


287 


at  once  thought  of  his  peril.  How  was  it  to  be  done? 
The  Indians  were  about  them  on  all  sides.  To  leave  him 
where  he  was,  was  certain  death ;  to  attempt  his  rescue 
seemed  almost  as  certain  destruction  to  him  who  should 
attempt  the  gallant  feat.  The  heroic  Chapman  volunteered 
for  the  attempt,  and  I  will  let  him  tell  the  story  of  his 
noble  act  in  his  own  quaint  and  graphic  way.  Turning  to 
his  comrades  the  brave  scout  said  :  "  Now,  boys,  keep  those 
infernal  red-skins  off  of  me,  and  I  will  run  down  and  pick  up 
Smith,  and  bring  him  back  before  they  can  get  at  me." 
Laying  down  his  rifle,  he  sprang  out  of  the  buffalo  wallow, 
ran  with  all  speed  to  Smith,  seized  and  attempted  to  shoulder 
him.  ' 

"  Did  any  of  you  ever  try  to  shoulder  a  wounded  man?" 
asked  Chapman,  when  telling  the  story.  "  Smith  was 
not  a  large  man,  one  hundred  and  sixty  or  seventy 
pounds,  but  I  declare  to  you  that  he  seemed  to  weigh  a 
ton.  Finally  I  laid  down  and  got  his  chest  across  my  back, 
and  his  arms  around  my  neck,  and  then  got  up  with  him. 
It  was  as  much  as  I  could  do  to  stagger  under  him,  for 
he  couldn't  help  himself  a  bit.  By  the  time  I  had  got 
twenty  or  thirty  yards,  about  fifteen  Indians  came  for  me 
at  full  speed  of  their  ponies.  They  all  knew  me,  and 
yelled,  '  Amos !  Amos !  We  have  got  you  now !  '  I 
pulled  my  pistol,  but  I  couldn't  hold  Smith  on  my  back 
with  one  hand,  so  I  let  him  drop  The  boys  in  the  buffalo 
wallow  opened  on  the  Indians  just  at  the  right  time,  and  I 
opened  on  them  with  my  pistol.  There  was  a  tumbling  of 
ponies,  and  a  scattering  of  Indians,  and  in  a  minute  they 
were  gone.  I  got  Smith  up  again  and  made  the  best  possi- 


288  A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

ble  time,  but  before  I  could  reach  the  wallow  another  gang- 
came  for  me.  I  had  only  one  or  two  shots  in  my  pistol,  so 
I  didn't  stop  to  fight,  but  ran  for  it.  When  I  was  in  about 
twenty  yards  of  the  wallow,  a  little  old  scoundrel  that 
I  had  fed  fifty  times,  rode  almost  on  to  me  and  fired. 
I  fell,  with  Smith  on  top  of  me,  but  as  I  didn't  feel 
pain,  I  thought  I  had  stepped  into  a  hole.  The  Indians 
couldn't  stay  around  there  a  minute  ;  the  boys  kept  it  red- 
hot  ;  so  I  jumped  up,  picked  up  Smith,  and  got  safe  into 
the  wallow.  'Amos,'  said  Dixon,  'you  are  badly  hurt/ 
'No,  I  am  not,'  said  I.  'Why,  look  at  your  leg;'  and 
sure  enough,  the  leg  was  shot  off  just  above  the  ankle  joint, 
and  I  had  been  walking  on  the  bone,  dragging  the  foot  be 
hind  me,  and  in  the  excitement  I  never  knew  it,  nor  have  I 
ever  had  any  pain  in  my  leg  to  this  day." 

IN   DESPERATE    STRAITS. 

Fierce  indeed  had  been  the  conflict,  and  desperate  seemed 
the  situation  of  the  beleaguered  party.  Every  species  of 
Indian  strategy  had  been  used  to  subdue  their  spirit  and 
accomplish  their  overthrow,  but  undaunted  by  the  dangers 
surrounding  them,  the  brave  fellows  proceeded  to  do  what 
was  best,  under  the  circumstances,  and  make  the  most  of 
the  one  chance  for  life  now  left  them  ;  i.  e.,  hold  their  posi 
tion  until  Miles,  marching  back  along  the  trail,  should  bring 
deliverance.  With  their  knives  and  hands  they  dug  deeper 
their  little  fort,  some  working  whilst  the  others,  keeping  vig 
ilant  watch,  fired  at  such  Indians  as  came  within  easy  range. 
The  savages,  Kiowas  and  Comanches,  the  finest  and  bold 
est  horsemen  in  the  world,  again  resorted  to  their  favorite 


"FAITHFUL  UA'TO  DEATH."  289 

tactics.  Mounted  on  their  fleet  ponies,  they  would  circle 
around  the  rifle-pit,  coming  nearer  and  nearer  with  each  cir 
cuit,  and  firing  as  they  rode.  But  still  undaunted,  the  white 
men  held  the  red  devils  at  bay.  Smith,  "  faithful  unto 
death,"  cheered  his  comrades  by  his  heroic  conduct ;  for 
whilst  his  life-blood  was  slowly  ebbing  away,  he  told  them 
to  place  him — he  could  not  move — upon  the  top  of  the  rifle- 
pit,  thus  offering  to  make  his  suffering  body  a  shield  for 
the  living,  after  his  hands  could  no  longer  aid  in  the  defence. 
But  happily,  succor  was  nearer  at  hand  than  dreamed  of 
by  the  besieged.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  J:he 
Indians  were  seen  to  draw  off,  and  shortly  afterwards  rapid 
firing  was  heard  in  the  distance,  and  the  savages  were  seen 
no  more.  A  body  of  troops  had  been  seen,  and  the  Indians, 
after  engaging  them  until  nightfall,  left  the  vicinity.  Dark 
ness  fell  upon  a  sad  scene  that  night.  Smith  was  dying, 
Chapman's  leg  was  broken.  Every  man  in  the  rifle-pit  had 
been  hit,  and  Dixon,  alone,  was  not  disabled.  They  were 
without  food,  and  but  for  the  blessed  rain  that  came  during 
the  night  they  would  have  suffered  dreadfully  for  water ;  of 
this  they  had  only  what  fell  in  little  puddles  in  the  pit,  and 
even  that  which  quenched  the  dying  thirst  of  Smith  was 
red  with  his  own  and  his  comrades'  blood.  Could  they 
hold  out  until  Miles  would  come,  bringing  food  and  succor? 
What  they  felt  and  what  they  suffered  in  the  silent  watches 
of  that  long,  cold,  rainy  night,  none  save  themselves  can 
ever  know.  The  morning  broke,  dark,  wet,  comfortless. 
Smith  had  died  before  dawn.  Would  the  Indians  return,  or 
would  they  be  left  unmolested  until  the  weary  hours  that 


A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

must  elapse  before  Miles  could  be  expected,  had  dragged 
themselves  away?  Soon  after  daylight  a  consultation  as  to 
what  was  best  to  be  done  was  held,  and  after  considering 
all  the  surrounding  circumstances,  it  was  thought  best  that 
Dixon,  the  only  able-bodied  man  left,  should  go  back  on  the 
trail,  meet  General  Miles,  which  it  was  hoped  he  would  do 
within  thirty-six  hours,  and  apprise  that  officer  of  the  con 
dition  of  affairs.  In  the  mean  time  the  ammunition  was 
divided  between  Dixon  and  those  remaining;  Dixon  taking 
with  him  on  his  dangerous  journey  on  foot  just  four  cart 
ridges.  With  what  was  left  the  besieged  must  defend 
themselves  as  best  they  could. 

Dixon  left  the  rifle-pit  in  a  drizzling  rain,  and  had  pro 
ceeded  less  than  a  mile  when  he  saw  approaching  him  a 
body  of  mounted  men.  Unable  to  determine  whether  they 
were  friends  or  foes,  he  secreted  himself  in  some  high 
grass  and  awaited  their  coming.  The  newcomers  proved 
to  be  Major  Price's  command,  a  battalion  of  the  8th  Cav 
alry,  with  whom  the  Indians  had  been  engaged  the  evening 
before,  and  Dixon  at  once  made  known  the  state  of  affairs 
at  the  rifle-pit  to  the  commanding  officer.  As  they  pro 
ceeded  to  the  buffalo  wallow,  Dixon  walking  by  Major 
Price's  side,  that  officer  directed  his  orderly  trumpeter  to 
ride  ahead  and  find  the  rifle-pit.  Upon  this  trumpeter's 
saddle  was  rolled  a  red  blanket,  and  as  he  came  in  full  view 
of  the  party  in  the  wallow  he  was  taken  for  an  Indian. 
Sergeant  Woodall  deliberately  took  aim  at  this  man  and 
fired,  the  ball  happily  missing  the  soldier,  but  killing  the 
horse. 


GENERAL  MILES'    TRIBUTE.  2Ql 

THE    RESCUE. 

So  you  see  there  was  fight  left  in  the  brave  fellows  still ! 

The  long  fight  was  over  and  the  rescue  was  made. 
Food  was  given  the  almost  famished  men,  and  a  detachment 
was  sent  off  to  inform  General  Miles  of  the  condition  of 
things.  General  Miles  was  found  on  the  Sweetwater,  and 
that  night  Chaffee,  of  the  6th  Cavalry,  with  his  troop,  pro 
ceeded  to  the  buffalo  wallow.  Poor  Smith  was  buried, 
and  the  wounded,  mounted  on  horses,  were  taken  to  the 
supply  train,  which,  as  had  been  ascertained,  was  camped 
on  the  Washita.  Those  were  stirring  times  that  followed, 
for  the  great  Indian  war,  begun  under  warm  summer  skies, 
was  terminated  only  the  next  Spring.  Many  gallant 
deeds  were  done,  but  as  the  men  would  gather  round  the 
camp-fire  the  long  and  cold  winter  nights,  they  heard  no 
nobler  story  than  that  of  the  dead  Smith  and  the  survivors 
of  the  fight  on  the  Washita. 

That  celebrated  Indian  fighter,  General  Miles,  U.  S. 
Army,  made  a  special  report  of  this  affair  to  the  War 
Department,  from  which  we  make  the  following  extract. 
Upon  his  recommendation  the  Medal  of  Honor  was 
awarded  to  each  survivor. 

"  I  deem  it  but  a  duty  to  brave  men  and  faithful  sol 
diers,  to  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  highest  military 
authority  an  instance  of  indomitable  courage,  skill,  and 
true  heroism  on  the  part  of  a  detachment  from  this  com 
mand,  with  the  request  that  the  actors  be  rewarded,  and 
their  faithfulness  and  bravery  recognized  by  pensions, 


202  A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

medals  of  honor,  or  in  such  way  as  may  be  deemed  most 
fitting.  .  .  . 

"Although  enclosed  on  all  sides,  and  by  overwhelming 
numbers,  one  of  them  succeeded,  while  they  were  under  a 
severe  fire  at  short  range,  and  while  the  others  with  their 
rifles  were  keeping  the  Indians  at  bay,  in  digging  with  his 
knife  and  hands  a  slight  cover.  After  this  had  been 
secured,,  they  placed  themselves  within  it ;  the  wounded 
walking  with  brave  and  painful  efforts,  and  Private  Smith, 
though  he  had  received  a  mortal  wound,  sitting  upright 
within  the  trench,  to  conceal  the  crippled  condition  of  their 
party  from  the  Indians. 

"  From  early  morning  till  dark,  outnumbered,  twenty-five 
to  one,  under  an  almost  constant  fire,  and  at  such  short 
range  that  they  sometimes  used  their  pistols,  retaining  the 
last  charge  to  prevent  capture  and  torture,  this  little  party 
of  five  defended  their  lives  and  the  person  of  their  dying 
comrade ;  without  food,  and  their  only  drink  the  rain-water 
that  collected  in  a  pool  mingled  with  their  own  blood. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  they  killed  more  than  double 
their  number,  besides  those  that  were  wounded.  The  ex 
posure  and  distance  from  the  command,  which  were  nec 
essarily  incidents  of  their  duty,  were  such  that  for  thirty- 
six  hours  from  the  first  attack  their  condition  could  not  be 
known.  .  .  . 

"  The  simple  recital  of  their  deeds  and  the  mention  of  the 
odds  against  which  they  fought  ;  how  the  wounded  de 
fended  the  dying,  and  the  dying  aided  the  wounded  by 
exposure  to  fresh  wounds  after  the  power  of  action  was 
gone,  these  alone  present  a  scene  of  cool  courage,  heroism, 


SERGEANT  KITCHEN'S  ADVENTURE.  293 

and  self-sacrifice,  which  duty  as  well  as   inclination   prompt 
us  to  recognize,  but  which  we  cannot  fitly  honor." 

II.   AN  AFFAIR   WITH    THE    COMANCHES. 

Another  episode  of  General  Miles'  campaign  in  Texas,  in 
1874,  is  described  by  a  wearer  of  the  Medal  of  Honor — 
First  Sergeant  GEORGE  K.  KITCHEN,*  Troop  "  I,"  5th  U. 
S.  Cavalry  : 

"On  the  morning  of  the  Qth  September,  1874,  Captain 
Wyllis  Lyman,  5th  Infantry,  with  *  I '  Co.  of  that  regi 
ment,  and  a  detail  of  twenty  cavalrymen,  including  myself, 
of  Troops  'A,'  «H,f  'I,'  and  '  M,'  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry, 
left  Commission  Creek,  Ind.  Ter.,  to  escort  a  wagon  train 
of  supplies  destined  for  the  command  of  General  Miles, 
on  the  headwaters  of  the  Red  River,  Texas.  The  General 
was  at  that  time  engaged  in  suppressing  a  rising  of  the 
Cheyennes  and  Arapahoes. 

"  We  pulled  out  from  Commission  Creek  at  7  o'clock  A.M., 
and  crossed  the  Canadian  River  at  8.30  A.M.  When  about 
two  miles  from  the  river,  and  about  9  o'clock,  we  were  sud 
denly  attacked  by  a  large  band  of  hostiles. 

"  The  train,  consisting  of  24  six-mule  teams,  was  formed  in 
two  columns.  The  infantry  formed  line  on  each  side  of  the 


*  GEORGE  K.  KITCHEN  enlisted  at  Harrisburg,  July  21,  1870 ;  assigned  to  Co.  "  H,"  6th 
U.  S.  Cavalry  ;  Corporal,  April  2,  1872  ;  Sergeant,  May  2,  1872  ;  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  for 
action  lasting  Sept.  Qth  to  Sept.  i4th,  1874.  Participated  in  an  engagement  with  Indians 
under  Lieut.  Henely,  6th  Cavalry,  on  Sappe  Creek,  Kansas,  April,  1875. 

Re-enlisted  July  21,  1875,  Troop  "  F,"  sth  Cavalry;  Corporal  same  date;  Sergeant, 
May  7,  1877. 

Re-enlisted  Troop  "  I,"  sth  Cavalry,  July  21,  1880.  Sergeant  to  date  from  May  7,  1877  ; 
ist  Sergeant  July  22,  1880.  Discharged  as  ist  Sergeant  July  20, 1885.  Character,  "  A  most 
excellent  non-commissioned  officer,  and  thoroughly  trustworthy  and  reliable  man." 

Re-enlisted  Troop  "  I,"  sth  Cavalry,  July  21,  1885.  Re-appointed  ist  Sergeant  same 
date,  with  continuous  rank. 


2^4  A  SPARTAN  BAND. 

train,  and  the  cavalry  detail,  by  repeated  charges,  strove  to 
keep  the  Indians  at  a  distance. 

"  In  this  fashion  the  command  travelled  on,  fighting  as 
we  went,  until  we  arrived  at  the  sand  hills,  about  one  mile 
from  the  Washita  River,  Texas.  At  this  point,  after  a 
short  lull  in  the  running  fight,  the  Indians  concentrated 
their  entire  force,  and  made  a  vigorous  and  united  charge 
on  the  train.  We  afterwards  learned  their  strength  to  be 
between  seven  and  eight  hundred  warriors.  This  charge 
was  repulsed  after  a  hard  fight,  the  Indians  coming  to 
within  50  yards  of  the  train,  and  repeatedly  attempting, 
after  being  beaten  off,  to  overwhelm  the  troops  by  dint  of 
superior  numbers. 

"  The  wagons  were  then,  as  it  was  impossible  to  advance, 
put  *  into  park'  as  rapidly  as  possible,  forming  in  an  egg 
shape.  The  infantry  were  thrown  out  on  a  skirmish  line 
round  the  hastily  formed  corral,  some  25  yards  from  the 
wagons.  When  this  movement  was  completed,  the  little 
band  of  cavalry  found  themselves,  at  the  end  of  some  hard 
fighting,  about  500  yards  away  from  the  skirmish  line,  and 
surrounded  by  the  enemy.  To  regain  their  comrades  of 
the  5th  Infantry  they  had  to  charge  through  a  mass  of 
Indians,  who  concentrated  themselves  between  them  and 
the  wagons.  This  was  successfully  done.* 

"On  reaching  the  'park'  we  secured  our  horses  inside 
the  enclosure,  and  were  then  ordered  out  on  the  skirmish 
line. 


*  About  this  time  a  trooper's  horse  was  killed  under  him.  Sergeant  Kitchen  halted 
and  picked  up  the  dismounted  man  behind  him,  and  managed,  under  a  heavy  fire,  to  carry 
him  off  unhurt  to  the  shelter  of  the  corral. — [EDITOR.] 


INDIAN  TACTICS.  295 

''The  hostiles  now  divided,  and  about  four  hundred  of 
them  at  this  time  made  two  unsuccessful  charges  on  the 
right  rear  of  the  corral,  defended  by  about  one-half  of  the 
command.  These  charges  were  made  in  column  of  pla 
toons,  and  the  alignment  was  as  precise  and  well  main 
tained  as  regular  troops  could  do  it.  Each  time  they 
came  up  to  within  40  yards  of  the  line  in  admirable  order, 
and  only  the  perfect  steadiness  and  continuous,  well-direct 
ed,  firing  of  our  troops  prevented  this  well  conceived  and 
daringly  executed  movement  from  being  successful. 

"  Our  heavy  firing,  however,  at  last  succeeded  in  repelling 
them  in  confusion  from  the  very  muzzles  of  our  guns. 

"  The  enemy  then,  unsuccessful  in  storming  us,  took  up 
position  on  the  numerous  sand  hills  around,  some  as  far 
away  as  four  hundred  yards,  others  at  about  only  two  hun 
dred  yards,  surrounding  us  by  a  complete  circle.  As  we 
lay  beneath  them  we  were  exposed  to  a  severe  and  vexatious 
fire  from  all  points,  and  our  return  fire  was  comparatively 
harmless.  When  darkness  arrived,  we  were  divided  up 
into  squads,  and  orders  were  given  to  dig  rifle-pits,  from 
twenty  to  thirty  yards  distant,  around  the  corral.  The  en 
emy  followed  our  example  and  were  occupied  in  intrench 
ing  themselves  on  the  sand  hills  they  held  during  the  day. 
Their  object  now  appeared  to  be  to  starve  us  out,  as  they 
knew  we  had  no  means  of  quenching  our  thirst.  The 
Washita  was  one  mile  away,  and  the  one  water-hole  near  us 
had  been  inaccessible  during  the  day,  and  our  repeated 
attempts  to  get  at  it,  at  night,  proved  futile.  Several  details 
tried  to  reach  the  water,  but  the  Indians  placed  a  strong  guard 
around  it,  and  their  fire  was  too  well-directed  to  allow  of 


296 


A  SPAXTAN  BAND. 


our  men  getting  near.  They  would  permit  us  to  get  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  hole,  in  fancied  security,  before  opening 
on  us,  arid  then  poured  in  their  fire  in  a  way  which  balked 
every  effort  of  ours  to  reach  the  desired  spot.  In  the  mean 
time,  a  desultory  fire  was  kept  up  by  them  from  all  sides 
of  us. 

"  Next  day  this  fire  became  regular  and  continuous,  and 
was  returned  by  us  from  the  rifle-pits.  The  Indians  per 
formed  some  prodigies  of  horsemanship  in  full  sight  of  us 
and  in  the  most  daring  way,  right  before  our  fire,  offering 
themselves  in  the  most  reckless  way  as  targets  for  our  fire. 
When  we  learned  afterwards  that  Comanches  were  amongst 
our  foes,  we  understood  the  cause  of  these  freaks;  these 
Indians  being  generally  reckoned  amongst  the  finest  horse 
men  in  the  world,  as  they  are  perhaps  the  most  showy, 
reckless  and  daring.  One  at  least  of  every  three  of  these 
foolhardy  '  braves  '  was  picked  off  by  the  marksmen  of  our 
little  command,  but  this  did  not  in  the  least  prevent  one  of 
his  comrades  from  at  once  taking  his  place,  after  the  dead 
body  of  the  first  had  been  carried  off.  This  was  done 
always  by  two  Indians,  riding  at  full  gallop,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  dead  man,  who  was  picked  up  by  them  without 
their  making  the  slightest  halt,  and  dragged  into  shelter. 

"  When  we  first  went  into  corral  there  was  but  a  very 
little  water  amongst  the  command,  and  this  was  saved  for 
the  use  of  the  wounded.  From  the  gth  to  the  morning  of 
the  I4th  of  September,  no  one,  except  our  wounded,  had 
one  drop  of  water.  On  the  third  day,  when  driven  almost 
to  despair  by  the  torments  of  thirst,  some  men  opened  a 
barrel  of  vinegar,  and  undertook  to  drink  it  when  sweetened 


PERIL  AND  PRIVATION.  2Q7 

somewhat  by  sugar.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  they  were 
prevented  from  swallowing  too  much  of  the  mixture.  One 
of  the  ten  men  whom  I  had  in  my  rifle-pit  drank,  in  spite 
of  my  efforts  to  prevent  any  excess,  so  much  of  this  drink 
that  he  became  delirious  and  very  violent.  'We  had  to 
tie  him  hand  and  foot  to  keep  him  inside  the  pit  ;  he 
frothed  at  the  mouth,  bit  and  fought,  and  exhibited 
every  token  of  insanity.  It  was  two  days  before  he  re 
covered  from  the  effects. 

"The  fighting,  until  the  night  of  the  I3th  of  September, 
was  continued  in  the  same  way,  we  staying  in  our  rifle-pits, 
exhausted  by  heat  and  thirst,  and  returning  as  best  we 
could  the  fire  of  the  Indians,  who  remained  in  possession  of 
their  sand  hills. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  I4th  we  saw,  with  relief,  the 
whole  band  of  Indians  pull  out  and  move  South.  If  we 
had  had  water  we  could  have  lasted  a  long  time.  Without 
it  we  could  not  have  stood  the  siege  for  many  more  days. 

"  All  our  wounded  got  their  hurts  on  the  first  day,  except 
one  trooper,  who  received  a  severe  scalp  wound  on  the  last 
day.  Lieutenant  Lewis,  5th  Infantry,  was  wounded  in  the 
knee,  and  afterwards,  I  heard,  he  had  his  leg  amputated. 
We  buried  one  sergeant,  of  '  I  '  Co.,  inside  the  corral.  The 
assistant  wagon-master  was  wounded,  and  died  two  days 
afterwards.  Him,  too,  we  laid  beside  the  soldier  in  the 
corral,  with  brief  but  impressive  ceremony. 

"  One-third  of  the  horses  were  killed,  and  about  one-half 
of  the  mules.  When  we  started  again  on  our  march,  on 
the  morning  of  the  i$th,  having  remained  one  day  to 
'straighten  up,'  a  few  of  the  wagons  had  four  mules  to 


298 


A  SPARTAN  BAND. 


draw    them,  out  of  their  original  six ;    the  rest   had    only 
two 

"  Captain  Lyman,  about  a  week  after  the  action,  went 
over  the  ground,  and  in  one  ravine  counted  forty  fresh 
mounds,  graves  of  the  Indians  slain,' but  their  loss  in  fatally 
wounded  and  disabled  must  have  been  much  more. 

"  The  weather  was  throughout  very  hot,  and  the  nights 
pitch  dark. 

"  We  were  met  on  the  Washita  River  by  General  Miles 
and  his  command,  and  went  into  camp  for  a  few  days  to 
'recuperate.'  The  rumor  of  this  command's  arrival  near 
the  scene  of  action  had  alarmed  our  opponents  and  been 
the  cause  of  their  sudden  flight.  We  now  learned  that 
they  were  composed  of  Comanches  and  Kiowas  united,  who 
had  left  their  reservation,  on  the  war-path.  After  the 
fight  with  us  they  moved  back,  disheartened,  we  supposed, 
at  their  severe  loss  and  failure  to  gain  any  plunder.  At  any 
rate,  they  kept  within  their  bounds  the  rest  of  that  year. 

"  During  the  fight,  the  stench  from  the  dead  animals,  our 
own  and  the  Indian  ponies,  was  very  horrible,  and  added 
much  to  the  discomfort  of  the  men,  and  the  danger  of  sick 
ness. 

"  On  the  third  night  we  were  corralled,  the  First  Sergeant 
of  the  infantry  company  came  to  me  and  asked  how  long 
we  could  stand  this.  I  thought  then  perhaps  the  best 
plan  would  be  to  fight  our  way  through  to  the  river,  but 
this  would  entail  the  loss  of  the  wagon-train.  The  First 
Sergeant  (Mitchell,  now  ordnance  sergeant  at  Fort  Assina- 
boine)  suggested  we  should  fire  the  train  to  keep  the 
Indians  from  getting  it,  and  fight  our  way  off  by  its 


"FOR  GALLANT  CONDUCT."  299 

light.  These  suggestions,  made  at  the  time,  show  that, 
at  one  time,  we  felt  little  hope  of  the  Indians  raising 
the  siege,  or  of  our  being  relieved  in  reasonable  time."* 


*  For  conspicuous  good  conduct  in  the  above  affair,  General  Miles  recommended  the 
following  enlisted  men  of  the  sth  Infantry  for  Medals  of  Honor,  viz.  First  Sergeant 
MITCHELL,  Sergeant  WILLIAM  DEARMOND,  Sergeant  F.  H.  HAY;  Corporals  T.  H.  KELLY, 
JOHN  T.  W.  KNOX,  and  T.  TAMES  ;  privates  THOMAS  KELLY  and  WILLIAM  KOELPIN 
(now  Battery  F,  sth  Artillery). 

On  May  18,  1875,  the  medals  were  awarded  by  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War,  and  for 
warded  to  headquarters  5th  Infantry,  where  they  were  distributed  on  July  28,  1875. 


300 


PRIVATE   WILLIAM    EVANS, 

SEVENTH    U.    S.    INFANTRY 


A  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 

HAVE  you  ever  thought  what  a  sensation  it  would  make 
if  a  detachment  of  United  States  Infantry  and  Cav 
alry,  made  up  of  men  suddenly  taken  from  the  duty  of  the 
moment,  were  to  appear  on  that  busy  thoroughfare,  Broad 
way,  to  illustrate  in  panoramic  fashion  the  Army  as  it  is  on 
the  frontier?  To  nine-tenths  of  the  people  the  nature  of 
our  military  service  on  the  far-away  prairies,  or  at  the  foot 
of  the  rugged  "  Rockies,"  could  in  no  other  way  be  so  dis 
tinctly  set  forth. 

We  will  take  our  places  on  the  steps  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Hotel  and  note  the  features  of  the  procession. 

A  post  commander  at  the  head  of  the  column  :  fortu 
nately  for  him,  he  has  been  making  his  daily  informal  in 
spection  of  the  post  and  vicinity  and  is  mounted  ;  he  is 
nearing  the  retiring  age,  but  is  well  preserved,  rotund  and 


302  A  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 

bald,  with  stiff  Rebellion  Burnside  to  crown  his  florid  face. 
His  uniform  is  a  simple  blouse,  fastened  by  one  button, 
soldier's  blue  trousers,  and  gaiters  ;  as  a  conservative  field- 
officer  of  infantry,  he  substitutes  a  light  switch  for  spurs, 
to  the  evident  satisfaction  of  his  well-fed  cob,  which  ambles 
quietly  along. 

The  commanding  officer's  orderly  closely  follows.  A 
cavalry  soldier  this,  in  natty  clothing  and  spotless  side- 
arms  ;  the  horse,  groomed  like  a  looking-glass,  suffers  him 
self  to  be  curbed  behind  his  more  staid  brother  of  "  the 
foot,"  but  evidently  longs  for  a  gallop. 

With  a  free  stride,  but  "  route-step,"  a  body  of  bronzed, 
athletic  men  approaches :  the  fact  that  they  are  soldiers 
cannot  be  concealed  by  a  grotesque  and  unfamiliar  dress  ; 
there  are  trousers  of  blue,  tattered  and  torn,  bound  below 
the  knee  with  strips  of  bagging,  or  turned  up  at  the  bot 
toms,  or  pushed  into  the  tops  of  cowhide  boots ;  there  are 
shirts  of  all  colors,  open  at  the  neck  some  of  them,  or 
with  sleeves  rolled  to  the  elbow  ;  hats  and  caps  of  varied 
ages  and  patterns.  Each  man  carries  a  spade  or  an  axe  or 
an  adze  or  a  sledge-hammer  or  a  saw ;  this  is  not  a  gang  of 
laborers,  nor  is  it  a  working  party  of  military  prisoners,  but 
simply  Company  "  L,"  of  the  — th  Infantry,  returning  from 
its  daily  task  of  building  quarters  at  the  new  post  of  Fort 
Barker.  All  drills  have  been  suspended,  and  the  necessary 
guard  duty  and  roll-calls  and  Sunday-morning  inspections 
are  the  only  military  duties  performed  by  these  soldiers 
for  the  last  three  months.  Although  "  Uncle  Sam  is 
rich  enough  to  buy  us  all  a  farm,"  he  has  frequent  fits  of 
false  economy  of  this  kind. 


OUR  ARMY  ON  THE  FRONTIER.  303 

And  now  there  comes  to  our  ears  the  sharp  flint-and- 
steel  "  click  "  of  horses' shoes  on  the  stony  street.  Four 
score  cavaliers  in  plainsmen's  garb  of  buckskin,  mingled 
with  a  dash  of  cavalry  light-blue  and  yellow,  with  soft  felt 
sombreros  and  boots  to  the  knee,  pass  in  review  before  the 
wondering  tax-payer.  The  spare,  soldierly  man  at  the  head 
of  the  column  carries  upon  his  body  the  scars  of  conflict  on 
the  Chicahominy;  the  solid  little  captain  near  the  rear  of 
the  column  has  a  name  borne  by  three  generations  of 
American  soldiers  ;  there  are  other  distinguished  officers, 
so  disguised  by  this  bandit-like  but  most  comfortable  field- 
dress,  that  none  but  their  men  or  intimate  friends  can  rec 
ognize  them.  These  troops  are  a  part  of  the  — th  U.  S. 
Cavalry,  just  starting  on  a  campaign  against  the  Sioux  ; 
when  they  come  marching  home  again,  their  ranks  will  be 
somewhat  thinner,  their  horses  jaded  and  weary,  but  their 
task  will  have  been  done  and  well  done. 

In  rear  of  the  cavalry  come  the  "  packs,"  patient  little 
long-eared  creatures,  trained  to  carry  burdens  larger  in  bulk 
than  themselves,  and  to  follow  with  sure-footed  sagacity 
the  leader,  whose  tinkling  bell  is  their  guide. 

"Who  are  these  in  bright  array?"  Sixty  mounted  men 
in  helmets  with  waving  yellow  plumes,  buttoned,  booted 
and  spurred,  with  bright  sabres,  bronzed  carbines,  sitting 
like  centaurs  the  snorting,  curvetting  chargers  that  spurn 
the  roadway  with  an  impatience  due  to  idleness  and  oats. 
It  is  Troop  "  K,"  of  the  same  regiment  of  cavalry  whose 
curious  outfit  we  have  just  noted.  This  troop  has  been 
left  behind  in  garrison,  and  has  been  taking  part  in  a  pa 
rade  of  ceremony. 


2 04  A  SOLDIER-SCO UT'S  S TOR  Y. 

Three  ambulances  succeed  the  horsemen.  Each  is 
drawn  by  four  nimble  mules.  The  curtains  are  rolled  up, 
and  we  can  note  the  faces  of  the  passengers.  They  are 
clad  in  furs,  although  it  is  not  cold.  They  represent  the 
survivors  of  three  Arctic  expeditions,  and  almost  without 
exception  they  are  from  the  cavalry  and  infantry — officers 
and  men ;  a  mere  handful  of  brave  spirits,  nerved  and 
trained  for  world-wide  exploration  by  their  army  service  on 
the  Plains. 

If  the  reader  can  imagine  this  Broadway  spectacle,  per 
haps  he  may  follow  us  to  the  great  North-west,  where,  amid 
storm  and  wind  and  deep  snow,  a  little  party  of  cavalry  is 
returning  from  a  scout.* 

The  thermometer  registers  42°  below ;  the  driving  sleet, 
and  the  breath  from  mouth  and  nostrils,  freezing  upon 
mustache  and  beard  and  eyes,  forms  a  solid  mask  of  ice 
upon  the  faces  of  the  blinded,  perishing  men  ;  far  back, 
like  a  broad  red  ribbon,  stretches  the  bloody  trail,  where  the 
horses'  feet  have  broken  through  the  sharp  crust  of  the 
snow-drift,  and  the  exhausted  animals  suffer  themselves  to 
be  urged  into  a  barely  perceptible  motion  by  their  half- 
conscious  and  dismounted  riders ;  some  of  whom  would 
fain  yield  to  a  deadly  languor,  from  which  they  can  only 
be  roused  by  flat  of  sabre  well  laid  on.  The  column  is 
steered  by  a  compass  in  the  hands  of  the  leading  man. 
Left  to  themselves,  these  soldiers  would  never  reach  an 
earthly  destination,  but  with  a  resolute,  experienced  com 
mander,  and  a  habit  of  discipline  and  obedience  to  orders, 
the  detachment  will,  ere  many  hours,  reach  the  shelter  of  a 

*  See  engraving  facing  chapter. 


SKIRMISHERS  OF  CIVILIZATION. 


305 


cattle  ranch,  where  they  maybe  sure  of  a  warm  and  friendly 
welcome. 

But  there  are  other  uses  for  the  Army  than  to  hunt  the 
warlike  Sioux  or  the  treacherous  Apache.  Our  friend  the 
reader  may  see,  as  with  the  eye  of  a  bird,  the  little  encamp 
ments  of  a  few  tents  each,  scattered  all  over  the  public 
domain  west  of  the  Missouri  and  south  of  the  British  pos 
sessions  in  North  America.  These  are  the  bivouacs  of 
military  geographers,  geologists,  meteorologists,  telegraph 
linesmen,  and  others  ;  they  are  the  skirmishers  of  civilization, 
the  outposts  of  settlement,  the  harbingers  of  Peace,  and 
yet  they  are  fitted  out  from  the  Department  of  War. 

But  this  is  a  long  digression  from  the  title  of  this  chapter, 
which  has  to  do  with  a  phase  of  army  life  not  yet  touched 
upon.  It  is  the  narrative  of  a  soldier — Private  WILLIAM 
EVANS,*  7th  U.  S.  Infantry — who  won  the  Medal  of  Honor 
in  gallant  and  important,  if  bloodless,  service  :  twice  taking 
"  his  life  in  his  hand  "  as  a  bearer  of  despatches.  The  nat 
ure  of  this  service  is  set  forth  in  the  following  document  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  DAKOTA. 
"  In  the  Field  Camp  at  mouth  of  Big  Horn  River,  July  26,  1876. 
"  General  Field-Orders, 

"No.  5. 

"  The  Department  Commander  has  recently  had  urgent  occasion  to  communi 
cate  from  this  camp  with  Brigadier-General  Crook,  commanding  a  force  en 
camped  on  the  headwaters  of  Powder  River.  The  duty  of  carrying  despatches 
between  those  points,  through  a  country  occupied  by  a  large  force  of  hostile 
Sioux,  was  of  the  most  arduous  and  perilous  nature.  A  scout,  inspired  by  the 


*  Enlisted  at  St.  Louis,  April  26,  1875  ;  assigned  to  "  E,"  7th  U.  S.  Inf.  ;   enlisted  Camp 
Baker,  M.  T.  (Co.  D),  Nov.  2,  1878  ;   re-enlisted  Nov.  2,  1883.     Corporal  Nov.  30,  1880.     Hon 
orably  mentioned  in  Regimental,  Department  and  General  Field  Orders  for  gallant  service. 
Medal  of  Honor,  August,  1876. 
20 


306 


A  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 


promise  of  a  large  reward,  made  the  attempt  but  soon  abandoned  it  as  hopeless 
As  a  last  resort,  a  call  was  made  upon  the  troops  of  this  command  for  volun 
teers,  in  response  to  which  not  less  than  twelve  enlisted  men  promptly  offered 
their  services.  From  among  these  the  following  named  soldiers  were  selected : 
privates  William  Evans,  Benjamin  F.  Stewart,  and  James  Bell  of  Co. '  E,'  yth 
Infantry. 

"  On  the  Qth  day  of  July  they  set  out  for  General  Crook's  camp,  which  they 
reached  on  the  twelfth,  delivered  the  despatches,  and  returned,  arriving  in  camp 
on  the  25th. 

"  In  making  this  public  acknowledgment  of  the  important  service  voluntarily 
rendered  by  these  soldiers  at  the  imminent  risk  of  their  lives,  the  Department 
Commander  desires  to  express  his  deep  regret  that  at  present  it  is  not  in  his 
power  to  bestow  the  substantial  reward  which  has  been  so  well  earned  ;  but  he 
is  confident  that  an  achievement  undertaken  in  so  soldier-like  a  spirit,  and  car 
ried  so  gallantly  to  a  successful  issue,  will  not  be  permitted  to  pass  unrewarded. 
The  exploit  is  one  calculated  to  establish  in  the  public  mind  a  higher  and  more 
just  estimate  of  the  character  of  the  United  States  Soldier. 

"  The  Department  Commander,  on  his  own  behalf  and  on  behalf  of  the  officers 
of  this  command,  desires  thus  publicly  to  thank  privates  William  Evans,  Ben 
jamin  F.  Stewart  and  James  Bell,  Co. '  E,'  7th  Infantry,  for  a  deed  which  reflects 
so  much  credit  on  the  Service. 

"  By  command  of  Brigadier-General  Terry, 

"ED.  W.  SMITH,  Capt.  i8th  Infantry, 

"  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General" 

Following  is  an  extract  from  Evans'  modest  statement : 
"  Being  requested   to   furnish  a  sketch  of  my  services  in 
the  army,  and  any  remarkable  incidents   that  I  have  taken 
part  in,  I  will  give  all  the  facts  in  my  possession. 

AN   ARMY   RECRUIT. 

"  I  enlisted  in  the  army  on  the  roth  day  of  April,  1875,  in 
St.  Louis  ;  was  sent  from  there  to  Newport,  Kentucky,  and 
assigned  to  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry.  Arriving 


KECRUH^S  AND  HOSTILE  INDIANS. 


30; 


at  Carroll,  on  Missouri  River,  in  July,  started  on  our  march 
to  Camp  Baker,  Montana — distance,  165  miles. 

"  There  were  225  recruits,  among  whom  four  rifles  were 
distributed  for  defensive  purposes.  The  country  was  full  of 
hostile  red-skins.  A  number  of  friendly  Crow  Indians  rode 
with  the  column  part  of  the  way,  and  it  almost  made  our 
hair  turn  gray  to  look  at  them.  We  recruits  didn't  know 
the  difference  between  Crow  and  Sioux,  our  information 
being  limited  to  the  wooden  Indian  of  the  tobacconist;  and 
the  old  soldiers  seemed  to  delight  in  our  ignorance.  On 
the  fourth  day  we  reached  Camp  Browning,  where  two  com 
panies  of  the  regiment  were  stationed.  After  dinner  the 
men  not  on  duty  were  permitted  to  enjoy  themselves  after 
their  own  fashion  ;  some  went  hunting,  some  to  fish,  and  a 
number,  myself  included,  to  wash  our  clothes  in  the  creek 
near  by. 

"  About  two  o'clock  the  camp  was  attacked  by  Indians. 
All  the  hunters  were  killed,  one  of  the  fishermen  was 
wounded,  and  some  who  had  gone  into  the  woods  for  fuel 
had  nothing  to  defend  themselves  with  but  axes.  Those  of 
us  who  were  washing  clothes  escaped  with  our  lives.  We 
were  entirely  naked  (as  we  had  been  swimming),  and  although 
some  of  the  hostiles  came  near  us  they  did  not  molest  us ; 
probably  taking  us  for  squaws  or  lunatics.  The  Indians 
left,  taking  with  them  some  of  our  cattle  and  horses.  Lieu 
tenant  Woodruff  pursued,  and  captured  sixteen  head  of 
stock.  We  found  the  hunting  party  dead  and  scalped  on 
the  skirmish  line,  except  one,  and  he  had  reached  the  foot 
hills,  getting  behind  a  rock,  where  he  had  fired  thirty-eight 


308 


A  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 


cartridges   (as  we   found   the   empty  shells)   before  he  was 
killed. 

"  This  was  not  a  cheerful  first  experience  for  us,  especially 
as  we  expected  to  march  200  miles  further  without  any 
weapons.  But  we  were  not  annoyed  again,  thanks  to  our 
friends,  the  Crows,  who  attacked  the  Sioux  the  next  day 
and  whipped  them. 

WINTER   ON   THE   PLAINS. 

"  I  soon  had  a  taste  of  winter  campaigning  ;  not  winter 
according  to  the  almanac,  but  as  it  is  to  be  found  on  the 
Plains.  Our  company,  '  E,'  Captain  Clifford,  was  ordered  on 
the  Yellowstone  Expedition,  March  17,  1876.  Left  Camp 
Baker,  thermometer  30°  below  zero,  with  snow  three  feet 
deep.  First  day  out  all  our  wagons  rolled  down  White's 
Gulch  Divide.  Spent  all  day  getting  them  right  side  up. 
With  two  of  the  company  badly  frozen,  travelled  three  days 
through  snow  three  feet  deep.  Arrived  at  Fort  Ellis  ;  was 
left  behind  to  drive  for  Fort  Shaw  cofnmand,  my  company 
going  ahead  as  escort  to  wagons.  One  of  our  men  de 
serted  on  road  but  was  captured  in  Bozeman,  and  I  was 
ordered  to  hitch  up  team  and  take  the  deserter  and  catch 
up  with  my  company.  Left  the  fort  at  three  o'clock  in 
afternoon  ;  got  into  a  snow-storm  on  Bridger  Pass  Divide. 
This  divide  is  a  part  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  over 
looks  Fort  Ellis  and  the  beautiful  Gallatin  Valley  ;  it  is 
thickly  covered  with  pine  timber,  and  wears  a  virgin 
crown  of  snow  the  year  around.  It  is  at  this  place  that 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  tunnelled  through  the  moun 
tain,  from  the  Valley  of  the  Yellowstone  to  that  of  the 


WINTER  ON  THE  JJLASA7S.  300 

Gallatin.  We  had  not  been  out  long  when  it  commenced 
to  snow,  one  of  those  blizzards  for  which  that  country  is 
noted.  Soon  lost  all  trace  of  the  road  and  started  over 
a  road  of  our  own ;  this  was  not  a  success,  as  before  we 
reached  the  summit  the  wagon  stuck  fast  in  the  timber,  and 
we  could  not  get  it  out  without  axes,  which  we  did  not 
have.  It  was  the  coldest  night  I  ever  saw.  Left  wagon 
next  morning  ;  had  to  give  deserter  two  mules  and  took 
two  myself.  Caught  up  with  company  at  Quinn's  Ranch, 
thermometer  42  below.  On  our  arrival  1  did  not  know 
for  some  minutes  whether  I  was  alive  or  not.  As  Quinn 
sold  what  they  term  whiskey  in  this  country,  my  company 
commander,  Captain  Clifford,  ordered  me,  I  think,  about 
a  quart,  and  it  was  all  that  saved  my  life.  A  party  of 
men  were  sent  back  for  the  wagon  ;  they  had  a  hard 
time  finding  it,  and  a  harder  time  to  get  it  out  of  the  drift. 
Ever  since,  they  have  called  it  *  Evans'  Snow  Trail  over  the 
Moon.' 

CARRYING   DESPATCHES. 

"  On  our  arrival  at  old  Fort  Pease  on  the  Yellowstone,  the 
regimental  commander,  General  Gibbon,  desired  to  send 
despatches  to  General  Terry,  who  was  crossing  overland 
from  Fort  Lincoln.  It  was  necessary  to  travel  by  water, 
and,  being  a  pretty  fair  boatman,  the  choice  fell  upon  me. 
At  that  time  I  was  a  very  young  soldier  and  not  much  in 
spired  with  the  military  spirit  that  afterwards  was  instilled 
into  me  by  my  company  commander,  the  late  Capt.  Walter 
Clifford.  If  ever  there  was  a  man  to  train  a  soldier  for  the 
field,  it  was  that  man.  Coming  to  me,  he  said  :  '  Evans, 


3 !  O  A  SOLDIER-SCOUTS  STOR  Y. 

you  are  a  good  boatman  and,  so  far  as  I  know,  you  are  no 
coward.  I  want  you  to  take  this  trip.  I  do  not  want  one 
of  my  men  to  go  where  I  would  not  go  myself,  but  the 
General  will  not  let  me  go.'  '  All  right,  Captain,  tell  the 
General  I  will  go.'  I  and  a  scout  (Williamson)  and  a  com 
rade  (Stewart)  started  that  night  by  moonlight.  Our  orders 
were  to  travel  the  stream  only  at  night,  but  in  this  instance 
positive  orders  had  to  be  disobeyed  or  we  should  have  per 
ished  with  hunger.  Starting  from  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Horn  River  in  skiff,  we  proceeded  down  the  Yellowstone 
very  slowly,  as  we  dare  not  use  oars ;  there  were  Indians 
on  both  sides  of  the  river  and  we  had  almost  to  hold 
our  breaths.  The  western  bank  of  the  river  in  many 
places  is  like  beautiful  enclosed  parks,  with  elk,  deer, 
buffalo,  antelope,  and  other  kinds  of  game  down  to  the 
squirrel ;  while  in  this  part  of  the  Yellowstone  there  is  the 
finest  mountain  trout.  The  east  bank  is  more  mountainous, 
occasionally  broken  by  heavily  timbered  bottoms.  Farther 
down,  between  Powder  River  and  Glendive,  the  scenery  was 
really  grand,  as  though  we  were  sailing  through  a  city  in 
ruins,  with  the  beautiful  rounded  peaks  running  up  to  the 
clouds  like  church  spires.  The  ground  was  covered  with  pet 
rified  wood,  shells  and  fish.  I  was  almost  afraid  to  stop 
there  for  fear  of  being  turned  to  stone.  The  same  night  we 
ran  past  an  Indian  camp  and  were  nearly  given  away  by 
their  dogs,  who  howled  and  barked  while  we  pulled  like 
good  fellows  until  morning,  when,  finding  we  were  not  pur 
sued  we  laid  to  under  some  willows  and  took  a  nap.  The 
second  night  out,  after  running  into  various  sloughs  and 
carrying  our  boat  over  sand-bars,  we  arrived  at  what  is  no\v 


CARRYING  DESPA  TCHES.  3  ,  r 

known  as   Buffalo    Rapids.     In   running  the   rapids   in  the 
dark  we  ran  against  the  rocks  and  smashed  our  boat. 

"  We,  however,  succeeded  in  landing  with  our  rifles  and 
one  can  of  peaches  ;  all  the  rest  being  lost,  and  not  knowing 
how  far  we  had  to  go,  we  sat  down,  rested  and  ate  the 
can  of  peaches,  We  arrived  at  Glendive  Creek  about  three 
o'clock  P.M.,  and  there  met  Colonel  Moore  with  four  com 
panies,  Sixth  Infantry.  One  incident  of  our  trip  that  made 
us  *  feel  strange  around  where  we  lived,'  was  the  sight  of 
three  black-tail  deer  standing  directly  in  line  with  each  other, 
and  we  three  hungry  men  stood  looking  at  them  without 
daring  to  fire  a  shot. 

"  Colonel  Moore  kindly  sent  his  own  scouts  on  with  the 
despatches,  returning  two  days  afterward  with  the  answer. 
We  volunteered  to  return  with  answer,  but  Colonel  Moore 
sent  his  own  scouts,  as  he  did  not  seem  to  put  much  confi 
dence  in  soldiers  carrying  despatches.  Those  same  scouts 
talked  so  much  about  Indians,  and  what  they  should  do  in 
case  of  an  attack,  that  they  scared  each  other  almost  to 
death  before  leaving.  As  Captain  Powell  and  the  sergeant- 
major  were  present,  I  offered  to  bet  $10  they  would  be  back 
before  morning,  which  bet  the  sergeant-major  accepted,  and 
lost.  .The  first  thing  we  saw  at  reveille  were  the  scouts 
returning  without  either  ammunition  or  rations  ;  they  said 
they  had  run  into  Indians  and  had  thrown  everything  away. 
I  went  up  to  Colonel  Moore  and  told  him  if  he  would  trans 
fer  the  vouchers  to  me  I  would  carry  back  the  answer.  The 
steamer  '  Far  West  '  coming  up  the  river,  we  all  got  on 
board  and  went  up  as  far  as  Powder  River,  Colonel  Moore 
giving  me  his  own  horse.  I  was  just  in  the  saddle  when  I 


->  !  2  A  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 

espied  the  first  boat  coming  down,  which  was  the  advance 
of  my  own  command  ;  thereby  losing  my  $250,  which  was 
on  the  vouchers. 

AN   ARMY   COURIER. 

"  After  both  commands  joined,  nothing  occurred  worth 
relating,  until  after  the  Custer  battle,  which  happened  on 
June  26.  After  our  return  from  that  fated  field  to  the 
mouth  of  Big  Horn,  General  Terry,  desiring  to  communicate 
with  General  Crook,  rewards  of  $1200  were  offered.  As 
usual,  citizens  got  the  first  show,  and,  as  usual,  failed, 
when  General  Terry  called  on  the  command  for  volunteers. 
Twelve  men  out  of  the  command  answered  the  call.  Our 
opinions  were  asked  in  regard  to  routes  on  map,  and  I  was 
chosen ;  I  suppose  because  I  made  a  success  of  the  last 
trip,  or  probably  because  I  chose  the  most  direct  route  on 
the  map.  I  had  my  choice  either  to  go  alone,  or  to  take 
two  men  with  me.  My  company  commander  decided  for 
me  that  I  should  take  two  men  with  me,  and  also  that  they 
should  be  of  my  own  company  ;  those  that  he  knew  he 
could  trust.  We  were  furnished  by  Captain  Clifford  with 
all  we  had  in  line  of  equipments,  field  glasses,  compass, 
maps,  and,  above  all,  his  own  experiences  in  cases  of  emer 
gency,  which  were  very  useful.  Crossing  the  river  at  dark 
on  steam-boat,  with  one  company  of  cavalry  as  escort  to 
come  with  us  12  miles,  as  the  Indians  were  pretty  thick 
around  the  bank  of  the  river,  we  proceeded  up  Tullick's 
Forks  until  about  9  o'clock,  when  Lieutenant  Roe,  Second 
Cavalry,  returned.  My  orders  on  leaving  the  camp  were 
that,  whichever  way  any  two  of  the  party  wanted  to  go 


"  KEEP  COOL."1  *  i  -> 

in  case  of  dispute,  that  the  third  should  be  compelled  to 
comply  ;  also  to  travel  as  little  as  possible  in  daytime  ;  but 
on  all  trips  of  that  kind  you  have  got  to  use  your  own 
judgment  to  a  certain  extent. 

"  We  travelled  all  night.  Our  horses  becoming  tired,  we 
dismounted  behind  the  largest  hill  we  could  find,  so  we 
could  look  the  country  over  at  daylight  and  also  rest  the 
horses  for  whatever  the  day  might  bring  forth. 

"  Not  seeing  anything  stirring,  we  kept  on  until  we  struck 
the  Rosebud  Divide.  Going  down  the  mountains  into  the 
canon,  we  found  the  very  spot  where  the  Indians  buried 
their  dead,  the  first  camp  they  made  after  they  fell  back 
from  the  Custer  battle.  The  Indians  were  buried  on  posts 
set  in  the  ground  with  poles  on  the  top  ;  they  were  wrapped 
in  white  cotton  sheeting  which  had  blood-stains  on  it,  prov 
ing  that  those  Indians  had  been  wounded  and  taken  along 
that  far,  when  they  died. 

"  A   CLOSE   CALL." 

"  We  dismounted  and  had  counted  about  30  dead  Indians, 
when  around  the  bend  of  the  stream  came  the  head  of  a 
herd  of  ponies,  driven  by  about  sixty  hostile  Indians. 

"As  fortune  would  have  it,  we  were  at  the  bottom  of  a 
ravine  in  the  canon,  and  it  was  there  Captain  Clifford's  ad 
vice  came  in  good — '  Keep  cool.'  We  consulted  a  moment, 
and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  no  good  running  away, 
so  when  the  head  of  the  herd  came  along  we  very  quietly 
led  our  horses  into  the  herd  and  travelled  along  with  them 
until  it  became  dark,  when  it  did  not  take  us  long  to  get 
out  of  that  vicinity.  This  was  the  closest  call  we  had  on 


3  !  4  A  SOLDIER-SCO UT ' S  S TOR  Y. 

the  trip,  though  we  were  badly  scared  the  same  night,  or 
about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  was  pitch  dark,  and 
rainine  as  it  had  never  rained  before  ;  and  as  the  horses 

o 

could  travel  no  longer,  we  dismounted.  We  took  our  lar 
iats  and  tied  them  around  us  and  let  the  horses  feed.  We 
could  not  have  been  more  than  15  minutes  in  the  place 
when  we  were  all  asleep  ;  the  horses  getting  scared,  tried  to 
run  away  and  pulled  us  in  three  different  directions.  You 
may  guess  we  were  frightened,  but  did  not  call  out,  as  we 
dare  not.  It  took  us  half  an  hour  to  find  each  other,  when 
we  proceeded  on  our  way  and  found  out  afterwards  that  it 
was  Crook's  old  battle-ground  we  had  laid  down  in,  and  the 
wolves  eating  dead  mules  that  frightened  the  horses.  We 
left  the  canon  at  daybreak  and  branched  off  on  Ash  Creek, 
a  tributary  of  Tongue  River,  where  we  struck  Crook's  trail. 
Following  up  the  trails  was  where  the  first  dispute  arose. 
About  4  P.M.  we  saw  two  different  smokes  at  the  foot  of 
Big  Horn  Mountains.  We  were  about  thirty  miles  away  at 
the  time.  Taking  out  the  map  we  found  out  in  which  di 
rection  Goose  Creek  ran,  where  we  expected  to  find  Crook's 
camp.  Then  Stewart  and  I  decided  to  take  the  left-hand 
smoke,  as  it  was  the  most  direct  to  Goose  Creek  ;  Bell 
deciding  to  go  the  other  way.  So  we  failed  to  obey  orders 
in  so  far  as  we  let  him  go.  He  started  and  went  about  a  mile 
and  came  galloping  back  with  the  very  natural  question, 
'  But  I  have  no  despatches  ;  what  will  I  do  if  it  happens  to 
be  the  camp  ?  '  '  Well,  if  you  insist  on  going,  tell  the  Gen 
eral  that  we  expected  to  find  him  on  Goose  Creek,  and  that 
if  he  is  not  there,  that  he  will  find  us  in  Fetterman  ;  that  our 
hard  tack  has  given  out,  and  that  this  command  is  on  half 


GENEKAL   CROOK'S  CAMP. 


315 


rations  long  enough.'  'Well,'  he  says,  'you  can  give  that 
message  to  the  General  yourself ;  I  guess  I  will  go  along 
with  the  crowd  ;  '  and  as  it  happened,  he  was  wise,  as  he 
would  have  walked  right  into  the  Indian  camp.  We  trav 
elled  all  night,  and  about  nine  o'clock  saw  the  glad  sight  of 
canvas  spread,  but  were  not  close  enough  to  tell  whether 
Indian  tepees  or  soldiers'  tents.  Keeping  right  on  we  were 
rewarded  with  finding  tents,  and  were  very  lucky  that  we 
were  not  one  hour  earlier  or  we  would  never  have  reached  it 
alive,  as  the  Indians  had  attacked  the  camp  that  morning, 
burning  the  prairie  and  driving  the  encampment  across 
Goose  Creek,  leaving  some  of  the  Third  Cavalry  mess-kits 
behind.  When  we  arrived  and  saw  it  we  did  not  know 
what  to  do,  as  we  could  not  see  the  camp  for  smoke,  but 
concluded  to  go  ahead, — generally  the  best  thing  to  do  in 
Indian  warfare. 

"  It  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  officers  and  men  when  they 
saw  us  arrive,  as  they  did  not  think  it  possible  for  any  white 
men  to  be  in  that  vicinity,  and  still  a  greater  surprise  when 
they  heard  that  General  Custer  was  killed,  with  all  his  men. 
We  being  tired  and  wanting  rest,  General  Crook  attached 
us  to  H  Co.,  Qth  Infantry,  and  ordered  me  to  report  to  him 
next  morning.  But  there  was  little  rest  for  the  weary  in 
that  camp,  as  there  were  present  five  or  six  reporters  of 
prominent  papers.  Between  them  and  the  officers  and  sol 
diers,  we  got  no  sleep  until  near  midnight.  The  camp  was 
attacked  about  eleven  at  night,  we  sleeping  in  the  First  Ser 
geant's  tent.  When  he  left  the  tent  to  form  company,  he 
asked  us  if  we  would  go  along.  I  turned  over  and  said, 
'  What  do  you  say,  boys,  will  we  go,  or  take  our  chances 


3i6 


A  SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 


sleeping?'  Stewart  said,  'Let  us  go  to  the  next  world 
asleep,  if  we  have  to  go,'  and  we  were  asleep  in  a  second 
and  did  not  hear  any  more  of  the  fight,  which  lasted  over 
one  hour,  as  we  were  told  next  morning. 

"  When  we  left  General  Terry's  command  there  were  three 
Crow  Indians  sent  out  in  a  different  direction,  in  case  we 
should  not  be  able  to  get  through.  They  arrived  in  General 
Crook's  camp  three  days  after  us.  After  asking  in  regard 
to  trails  crossed  and  Indians  seen  en  route,  the  General  asked 
me  if  we  would  volunteer  to  return  with  an  answer,  giving 
us  our  choice  ;  telling  me  both  commands  were  going  to 
join,  and  saying  if  we  did  not  like  to  return,  he  would  send 
the  Indians.  Bell's  horse  dying  the  day  we  arrived  in 
camp,  he  could  not  come,  so  Stewart  and  I  volunteered  to 
return.  He  entrusted  his  despatches  to  me,  sending  the 
three  Crow  scouts  with  us.  We  left  the  command  at  dark 
and  had  proceeded  but  a  little  way  when  the  Indians  called 
a  halt,  and  commenced  eating  their  five  days'  rations,  which 
did  not  take  them  long.  Not  being  satisfied,  one  of  them, 
'  Buffalo  Calf '  by  name,  came  over  to  where  our  haver 
sacks  were  laying  on  the  ground,  and  picked  them  up  and 
walked  off ;  they  ate  the  contents  of  them,  as  well  as  their 
own,  not  paying  any  attention  to  our  remonstrances.  We 
then  made  up  our  minds  that  when  we  arrived  in  a  country 
where  we  dare  fire  a  shot,  that  there  would  be  three  more 
4  good  Indians  '  ;  but  a  lucky  accident  happened  which 
saved  them  and  also  satisfied  us.  We  travelled  two  nights 
and  one  day.  At  about  noon  on  the  second  day  we  arrived 
at  Custer's  battlefield  and  there  saw  a  calf,  the  only  game 
we  saw  in  the  country  on  the  trip.  The  Indians  were  laugh- 


HUNTING  A  DINNER. 


317 


ing  at  us.  Our  eyes  were  sticking  out  of  our  heads  with 
hunger.  When  I  saw  that  calf  I  dismounted,  and  would 
have  shot  if  the  world  was  coming  to  an  end  ;  but  the  In 
dians  commenced  gesticulating  for  me  to  stop  and  they 
would  get  the  calf,  which  they  did,  by  running  it  down. 
Well,  you  ought  to  have  seen  us  watching  that  calf,  with 
our  guns  in  our  hands.  We  were  bound  to  temper  their 
appetites  on  this  occasion.  Whether  they  took  the  hint  or 
not,  they  acted  like  gentlemen,  cooking  the  best  parts  of  it 
first  for  us  and  then  filling  our  haversacks  to  make  up  for 
our  rations,  and  having  lots  of  fun  at  our  pitiable  condition 
and  looks.  There  was  nothing  more  happened,  on  our  trip 
back,  of  any  moment. 

"  When  we  arrived  at  Yellowstone  our  camp  had  moved 
down  river,  which  was  a  disappointment  to  us,  made  up, 
however,  when  we  arrived  there,  by  the  welcome  we  received 
from  both  officers  and  men.  There  being  no  steam-boat  up 
at  the  time,  we  could  not  get  our  horses  across  the  river  just 
then.  The  steamer  '  Far  W7est '  came  up  that  night.  It 
was  commanded  by  Captain  Grant  Marsh,  the  brave  man 
who  ran  his  boat  up  the  river  for  Custer's  wounded  soldiers, 
making  the  remark  that  he  would  go  there  if  he  had  to 
take  her  overland  ;  which  he  did  the  bigger  part  of  the  way. 

"  Not  liking  to  leave  the  horse  that  had  carried  me  so  far, 
across  the  river  to  be  eaten  up  by  buffalo  gnats,  I  went  to 
General  Gibbon  and  requested  him  to  get  the  steam-boat  to 
go  for  him  ;  the  General  told  me  to  go  to  Captain  Marsh 
myself,  that  he  would  go  for  me  if  I  asked  him.  Captain 
Marsh  was  at  the  head  of  the  table  at  a  dinner  given  to 
some  of  the  officers  and  tourists  that  were  aboard  his  boat 


A   SOLDIER-SCOUT'S  STORY. 

when  I  made  the  request.  Pulling  me  into  his  cabin  he 
made  the  remark  to  his  guests  that  there  was  no  service, 
either  he  or  his  boat  could  perform,  that  I  was  not  wel 
come  to ;  drinking  my  health,  and  at  the  same  time  order 
ing  steam  up.  General  Gibbon  made  me  a  present  of  the 
horse  for  my  devotion  to  him. 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ;TH  INFANTRY, 

"CAMP  MOUTH  OF  ROSEBUD,  M.  T., 
"General  Orders,  August  5,  1876. 

"  No.  14. 

"  In  communicating  to  the  regiment  General  Orders  No.  5,  Department  of  Da 
kota,  the  regimental  commander  desires  to  express  his  obligation  to  privates 
Evans,  Stewart  and  Bell  for  the  gallant  and  important  services  rendered.  In 
doing  so,  he  recalls  the  fact  with  pride  that  this  is  the  second  time  during  the 
operations  of  this  summer  that  privates  Evans  and  Stewart  have  volunteered 
to  carry  important  despatches  at  the  imminent  risk  of  their  lives,  and  he  con 
gratulates  them  that  they  were  as  successful  in  the  second  effort  as  in  the  first. 
Such  conduct  cannot  fail  to  reflect  great  credit  on  these  soldiers  and  the  organ 
ization  to  which  they  belong. 

"  By  order  of  Colonel  John  Gibbon.  LEVI  F.  BURNETT, 

u  \st  Lieiit.  and  Adjt.  Jth  Infantry" 


LITTLE   WOLF    AND    HIS   CAPTOR. 

(THE    LATE   CAPTAIN    CLAKK,    2D    U.    S.    CAVALRY.) 


319 


SERGEANT    WILLIAM    B.    LEWIS, 

THIRD    U.    S.    CAVALRY    VOL. 


HUNTING  LITTLE  WOLF. 

THE  Northern  Cheyennes  being  unhappy  and  dissatisfied 
on  account  of  sickness,  caused  by  the  strange  climate  of 
Indian  Territory,  where  they  were  sent  by  the  Interior  De 
partment,  had  traversed  the  State  of  Kansas  during  the 
autumn  of  1878,  desolating  happy  homes  and  committing 
many  outrages  on  their  path  to  their  old  home  in  the  North. 
After  a  close  pursuit  by  the  troops  of  three  departments 
they  divided  into  two  parties.  A  portion  of  them,  under 
Chief  "  Dull  Knife,"  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  Indians  and  one  hundred  and  forty  ponies,  were  cap 
tured  in  the  sand  hills  of  Nebraska  by  the  command  of 
Captain  Johnson,  3d  Cavalry,  who  had  two  Sioux  guides, 
Lone  Bear  and  Eagle  Pipe.  Their  arms  and  ponies  were 
taken  away,  but  the  prisoners  said  they  would  die  rather  than 

^20 


DESPERATE  PRISONERS.  ^2I 

be  taken  back  to  Indian  Territory.  When  told  they  must 
go  to  Fort  Robinson,  and  regarding  this  as  a  step  toward 
the  hated  Indian  Territory,  they  began  digging  rifle-pits 
and  a  fight  seemed  inevitable  ;  but  through  the  coolness  and 
judgment  displayed  by  the  officers  it  was  avoided  and  they 
yielded  peaceably,  were  taken  to  Camp  Robinson  through  a 
snow-storm,  and  there  confined  in  an  empty  barrack. 

The  other  party,  under  "  Little  Wolf,"  escaped  by  scatter 
ing  in  the  sand  hills,  where  a  dense  snow  covered  their  trail, 
and  though  the  pursuit  was  kept  up  till  numbers  of  the 
soldiers  were  frozen,  it  was  fruitless. 

Remaining  in  confinement  from  October  till  January, 
closely  guarded  by  sentinels  on  all  sides  of  the  barracks,  Dull 
Knife's  band  was  notified  that  the  Interior  Department  had 
directed  them  to  be  returned  to  Indian  Territory.  The  few 
who  were  willing  to  go  and  began  to  make  preparations  for 
departure  were  forcibly  detained  in  the  prison-room  by 
those  who  dreaded  punishment  for  their  misdeeds,  and  were 
determined  to  die  rather  than  be  taken  back  South  again. 

THE  INDIAN  FUGITIVES. 

Wild  Hog,  a  bad  Indian  and  the  principal  disturber,  was 
arrested  and  securely  ironed  January  9,  after  a  very  severe 
struggle,  in  which  a  soldier,  one  of  the  guard,  was  stabbed. 

The  Indians  in  the  prison-room  immediately  barricaded 
the  doors  and  windows  to  conceal  their  movements  ;  began 
tearing  up  the  floor,  and  made  r;fle-pits  commanding  all  the 
entrances.  Some  carbines  and  pistols,  as  well  as  ammunition 
in  plenty,  had  been  obtained  from  the  Sioux,  at  the  agency 
near,  who  were  secretly  friendly  to  them,  and  being  in  many 

21 


322  HUNTING  LITTLE  WOLF. 

instances  related  by  marriage  had  been  allowed  to  visit 
them.  Squaws  had  undoubtedly  concealed  the  articles  in 
their  blankets  and  clothes,  thus  passing  the  guard.  The 
barrack  was  now  in  such  a  condition  that  for  any  white  man 
to  enter  was  certain  death  ;  six  sentries  were  posted  around 
the  building.  About  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  January  10, 
shots  were  fired  from  the  windows,  killing  two  sentinels  and 
wounding  the  corporal  in  the  guard-room.  The  Indians 
then  burst  from  all  the  windows  in  a  rush  for  "  liberty  or 
death,"  securing  the  arms  and  ammunition  of  the  disabled 
sentinels.  The  garrison  gave  chase  immediately,  the  Indians 
retreating  toward  a  creek  near  the  post  and  keeping  up  a 
constant  fire  on  the  troops.  All  refused  to  surrender  when 
called  upon  to  do  so.  Thirty-two  Indians  were  killed  and 
seven  were  captured  ;  the  remainder  were  pursued,  and  at 
a  point  twelve  miles  from  the  post  intrenched  themselves 
strongly,  and  having  plenty  of  ammunition,  probably  con 
cealed  for  their  use  by  friends,  by  previous  arrangement, 
were  able  to  keep  the  troops  at  a  respectful  distance. 

The  next  day  Lieutenant  Simpson,  3d  Cavalry,  had  two 
skirmishes  with  them  and  lost  a  corporal  killed  and  one  man 
wounded.  The  next  day  they  again  strongly  intrenched 
themselves  in  a  place  about  twenty  miles  from  Ft.  Robinson. 
Shells  were  fired  into  their  fortification,  but  during  the  night 
they  succeeded  in  escaping  under  cover  of  darkness.  Forty- 
five  Indians  now  remained,  evidently  bent  on  joining  Little 
Wolf's  band,  and  preferring  death  to  recapture. 

General  Sheridan  had  telegraphed  orders  to  the  command 
ing  officer  at  Ft.  Laramie,  Wyo.,  "  to  send  all  his  cavalry  to 
capture  or  kill  this  band."  After  hard  marching  by  day  and 


BROUGHT  TO  BAY.  323 

night,  this  command  had  again,  January  20,  driven  the  In 
dians  to  intrench  themselves  in  a  high,  rocky  peak,  several 
hundred  feet  above  the  mountains  through  which  they  had 
been  chased,  commanding  the  surrounding  ground  on  three 
sides  on  which  the  troops  must  advance,  and  almost  perpen 
dicular  to  the  valley  on  the  other.  Coming  upon  them  sud 
denly,  after  hours  of  climbing  up  and  down  the  steep  moun 
tains  the  Indians  had  chosen  as  more  difficult  to  follow  them 
in,  the  command  was  greeted  with  a  volley ;  fortunately  no 
one  was  hurt,  but  on  the  command  being  withdrawn  to 
cover,  a  captain  and  two  of  his  men  were  found  missing. 
No  one  knew  where  the  Indians  were  concealed,  or  from 
which  direction  to  expect  the  next  volley.  Another  captain, 
selecting  several  of  the  best  shots  in  his  troop,  crawled  warily 
forward  to  relieve  the  beleaguered  captain  and  his  men,  if 
alive,  or  to  recover  their  bodies  and  prevent  mutilation  ;  and 
by  calling  out,  thus  making  their  whereabouts  known  to  the 
hostiles  as  well  as  their  friends,  found  to  their  joy  that  they 
were  still  alive,  and  concealed  in  a  pit  in  the  rocks  to  which 
they  had  betaken  themselves  for  cover,  not  knowing  which 
direction  the  Indians  were  in.  Warning  their  friends  as  to 
their  intention  of  keeping  up  a  hot  fire  on  the  Indian  posi 
tion  to  keep  the  Indians  down,  their  friends  were  enabled 
to  slowly  work  their  way  out  of  their  awkward  predicament. 
It  being  impossible  to  dislodge  the  Indians,  and  darkness 
coming  on,  accompanied  by  a  snow-storm,  guards  were  posted 
on  three  sides  of  the  rocky  bluff  to  prevent  escape.  The 
command  in  the  valley  a  mile  below  them,  having  heard 
the  firing,  had  gone  into  camp  at  the  foot  of  the  wall  of 
rock  on  the  other  side,  so  that  their  position,  though  im 


324  HUNTING  LITTLE   WOLF. 

pregnable,   was  nearly  surrounded,  and  it  was  thought  the 
Indians  couldn't  get  away  this  time. 

ELUDING  PURSUIT. 

At  dawn,  the  watchers,  who  had  paced  wearily  around  the 
eyry  all  night,  were  surprised  to  see  the  command  at  the 
foot  of  the  wall  moving  across  the  valley  below  them  ;  shots 
were  fired,  flags  waved,  but  all  means  of  signalling  failed  to 
stop  them,  and  a  messenger  could  only  reach  them  by  a  trail 
fully  fifteen  miles  around.  Had  the  Indians,  or  a  part  of 
them,  escaped  during  the  night?  The  commanding  officer 
announced  that  it  would  be  foolish  to  expose  the  whole  com 
mand  to  a  murderous  fire  while  climbing  the  bluff,  and  that 
he  wouldn't  order  anybody  to  throw  his  life  away  in  discov 
ering  whether  the  Indians  were  still  there,  but  if  two  or  three 
men  would  volunteer,  they  could  go.  Hardly  were  the 
words  spoken  when  Sergeant  WILLIAM  B.  LEWIS  of  B  Troop 
stepped  up,  and  with  his  heels  together,  saluted,  and  said  : 
"  I'd  like  to  go,  Sir."  Two  more  men  volunteered,  and  after 
receiving  instructions  as  to  the  signals  to  be  used  in  the 
event  of  any  discoveries,  started  forward,  carbines  in  hand 
and  belts  full  of  cartridges,  to  prevent  the  useless  sacrifice  of 
many  lives.  Stealthily  moving  from  cover  to  cover,  and 
climbing,  climbing,  till  lost  to  the  view  of  the  command,  they 
struggled  upward,  liable  at  each  new  step  to  be  greeted  with 
a  volley  that  would  doom  them  to  lonely  graves,  and  possi 
bly  a  report  in  the  papers  that  "  a  sergeant  and  two  privates 
were  killed."  After  a  seemingly  long  while  a  shot  is  fired. 
Has  one  of  the  men  been  killed  ?  Anxious  guesses  are  made 
ns  to  what  it  means.  Sergeant  Lewis  has  gotten  in  the  first 


SERGEANT  LE  WIS  RECONNOITRES.  3 2  5 

shot  at  a  wounded  warrior,  unable  to  travel,  but  very  wide 
awake  and  thoroughly  able  to  use  his  cocked  rifle,  which  he 
holds  ready  for  use  on  one  of  the  Sergeant's  companions, 
the  noise  of  whose  movements  has  alarmed  him.  A  dull 
thump  and  a  limp  fall  convinces  the  Sergeant  that  the 
"bullet  has  found  its  billet."  He  moves  forward  warily 
now,  as  there  may  be  others  equally  eager  for  a  shot  at  him ; 
'he  soon  discovers,  however,  that  this  was  the  only  one,  and 
climbing  to  a  point  whence  the  command,  which  is  eagerly 
watching  for  him,  can  see  him  he  waves  his  hat  to  let 
them  know  that  the  Indians  have  fled.  The  commands, 
"  Mount !  "  and  "  Forward  !  "  are  promptly  obeyed,  and  the 
cavalcade  moves  out  at  a  trot  to  join  their  friends  in  the 
valley,  whose  movements  are  now  understood  ;  horses  being 
left  for  the  Sergeant  and  his  men  to  come  up  with.  The 
Indians  were  making  for  the  Red  Cloud  Agency  and  friends. 

A   FAINT   TRAIL. 

The  trail  which  the  Indians  made  after  making  their  peril 
ous  descent  was  almost  obliterated  by  the  snow  which  fell 
during  the  night,  and  they  counted  on  its  making  it  impossi 
ble  to  follow  them,  and  leaving  the  "  sojers  "  at  a  loss  to  know 
where  they  had  gone  ;  but  Captain  Wessells  had  at  dawn  dis 
covered  the  faint  trail,  and  his  sharp-eyed  trailers  followed 
it  diligently  till  he  overtook  the  Indians  on  the  22d,  in 
trenched  in  a  circular  gully  caused  by  a  water-spout,  on  a 
knoll  which  commanded  the  surrounding  ground,  and  which 
they  materially  strengthened  by  judicious  digging  with  their 
knives. 


326 


HUNTING  LITTLE   WOLF. 


SAVAGE   DESPERATION. 


Captain  Wessells  surrounded  their  position  with  his 
four  troops  of  cavalry,  and,  with  an  interpreter,  crawled 
forward  toward  their  breastwork  and  raised  a  white  flag, 
the  meaning  of  which  is  understood  by  almost  all  Indians. 
Retold  the  interpreter  to  tell  the  Indians  he  didn't  want  to 
hurt  them  ;  he  told  them  that  the  soldiers  were  their  friends, 
but  had  to  do  what  the  "  Great  Father  "  ordered,  and  that 
the  soldiers  must  either  take  them  back  to  Fort  Robinson 
or  kill  them  all.  For  answer,  a  volley  was  fired,  which 
knocked  off  the  interpreter's  hat.  Captain  Wessells  then, 
seeing  that  the  Indians  were  desperate  and  would  not  lis 
ten  to  him,  ordered  a  charge.  The  men  dismounted, 
rushed  up  the  open  space  surrounding  the  pit,  and  dis 
charged  their  weapons  in  the  faces  of  their  enemies,  but 
were  forced  to  retire,  leaving  Captain  Wessells  wounded 
in  the  head  and  bleeding. 

Lieutenant  Chase,  seeing  that  he  was  not  dead,  picked 
him  up,  and  endeavored  to  carry  him  out  of  danger,  but 
was  promptly  notified  that,  being  next  in  command,  he 
must  take  charge. 

The  interpreter  was  again  used,  with  as  little  success  as 
before,  and  another  charge  was  made.  After  the  third 
trial,  failing  to  effect  anything,  the  interpreter  swore  that 
he  wouldn't  risk  his  life  again  in  such  foolishness.  Seeing 
that  the  Indians  were  desperate,  and  meant  to  die  there, 
repeated  charges  were  made,  till,  no  more  resistance  being 
offered,  the  pit  was  examined,  found  full  of  dead,  and  nine 
Indians  were  captured,  three  of  whom  were  wounded.  Our 


A  PLEASANT  CEREMONY. 


327 


old  friends  of  the   mountain-top   rode  up   too  late  for  the 
fight. 

Burying  the  dead  and  rigging  travois  for  the  wounded 
the  command  started  back  to  their  garrisons,  mourning 
their  dead  comrades  and  the  stern  necessity  which  had 
compelled  them  to  kill  all  the  occupants  of  the  pit,  who 
preferred  death  to  recapture  ;  and  after  facing  death  in  one 
form,  now  looked  at  it  through  another,  through  the  bitter 
cold  of  a  Wyoming  January. 

AWARDING  THE    MEDAL. 

The  garrison  of  Fort  Laramie  is  in  gala  dress  this  April 
evening;  wrhat  does  it  all  mean?  The  call  for  "  Dress 
Parade  !  "  has  been  sounded,  the  band  plays,  line  is  formed. 
The  Adjutant,  having  presented  the  regiment,  is  directed 
by  the  Colonel  to,  "  Publish  the  orders,  Sir,"  faces  about 
and  reads  the  following  : 

"  HDQRS.  FT.  LARAMIE,  WYO.  TY. 
«  Orders,  Afiril  17,  1886. 

"  No.  21. 

"  The  Congress  of  the  United  States  having  conferred  upon  Sergeant  WM.  B. 
LEWIS  of  Company  B,  3d  Cavalry,  a  '  Medal  of  Honor,'  for  bravery  exhibited 
in  an  affair  with  hostile  Indians  near  Bluff  Station,  Wyo.  Ty.,  on  January  20 
and  22,  1879,  th6  same  will  be  delivered  to  him  on  parade  this  evening,  and 
will  be  worn  by  him  on  all  dress  occasions. 

"  By  order  of  Major  Evans. 

"(Signed)  JNO.  C.  THOMPSON, 

"  ist  Lt.  and  Adjt.  yi  Cavalry, 
"  Post  Adjutant:'' 

Sergeant  Lewis  being  directed  to  step  forward,  does 
so :  the  Colonel  pins  the  Medal  on  his  breast,  and  with  a 


328 


HUNTING  LITTLE    WOLF. 


few  kind  words  excuses  him.  The  Adjutant  commands, 
"  Parade  is  dismissed  !  "  joins  the  officers  in  the  march  to 
salute  the  Colonel,  and  he,  as  well  as  every  other  officer  in 
that  line,  as  it  halts  and  salutes,  would  brave  any  danger  to 
wear  deservedly  the  Medal  just  delivered;  while  the  men  in 
ranks  feel  a  thrill  of  pride  in  the  Sergeant  for  his  gallantry, 
and  gather  about  him  on  being  dismissed,  to  look  upon,  and 
reverently  touch,  his  Medal. 

A   BLOODLESS   VICTORY. 

Lieut.  WILLIAM  P.  CLARK,  the  officer  selected  by  the  De 
partment  Commander  to  capture  the  remnant  of  the  desper 
ate  band  whose  fate  has  already  been  described,  was  a  sub 
altern  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  and  had  for  a  number  of  years 
made  the  study  of  Indian  character  and  customs  a  specialty, 
and  was  greatly  respected  by  both  savage  and  civilized 
men.  He  was  young,  handsome,  brave,  and  straightforward, 
and  the  sequel  proved  the  wisdom  of  his  selection.  In  com 
mand  of  a  squadron  of  his  regiment  and  some  trusted  In 
dian  scouts,  the  hostiles  were  soon  overhauled.  Lieutenant 
Clark  says  in  his  report : 

"  The  next  morning  I  struck  an  old  camp  of  the  hostiles, 
two  days  old,  after  I  had  marched  some  three  miles  ;  and 
about  two  miles  further,  two  of  my  Cheyenne  scouts  met 
me,  bringing  three  of  the  hostiles  with  them  ;  said  they 
went  into  camp  during  the  night,  and  had  delivered  my 
terms,  which  the  hostiles  said  they  would  accept.  The 
three  Cheyennes,  brought  to  me,  corroborated  this  state 
ment,  but  desired  me  to  go  into  camp  where  I  was, 
and  their  village  would  move  over  and  join  me  ;  that  if  I 


"WHITE  HATS"  DIPLOMACY.  329 

marched  up  to  their  camp,  the  women  and  children  might 
be  frightened  and  there  might  be  some  trouble.  I  declined, 
of  course,  to  do  anything  of  this  sort,  but  selected  the  two 
head-men,  Brave  Wolf  and  Two  Moon,  of  my  Cheyenne 
scouts,  to  ride  on  ahead  and  renew,  briefly,  kindly  and 
firmly,  my  terms,  and  bring  Little  Wolf  out  to  me  as  I  ap 
proached  the  village  with  my  command. 

11  This  the  scouts  did,  and  Brave  Wolf  added  to  the  mes 
sage  in  delivering  it,  '  I  love  the  soldiers  at  Keogh  ;  I  go 
with  them  to  fight  all  their  enemies,  and  if  you  will  not 
listen,  you  will  force  me  to  fight  my  own  people,  for  you 
are  my  kinsfolk.' 

"  Little  Wolf  met  me  about  half  a  mile  from  his  camp,  and 
said  he  would  accept  the  terms  offered  by  my  scouts,  and  that 
he  was  glad  to  meet  me  again.  I  marched  my  command 
to  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  village,  which  was  in  a 
natural  fortress, — and  they  had  strengthened  it  by  breast 
works  of  stone  and  dirt, — and  put  my  forces  in  the  next  best 
and  strongest  position  about  there,  both  for  their  protec 
tion  and  to  attack,  in  case  there  should  be  any  necessity  for 
such  a  measure.  After  about  an  hour,  to  allow  the  excite 
ment  to  wear  away  and  to  give  my  Cheyenne  scouts  time  to 
talk  the  matter  over  with  them,  I  went  over  to  the  camp, 
taking  off  my  arms  to  show  them  that  I  had  confidence  in 
them,  and  briefly  told  them  in  council  what  they  must  do,  as 
far  as  I  was  concerned;  that  I  had  told  my  scouts  to  give 
them  no  lies  and  I  hoped  they  had  done  as  I  had  told  them  ; 
that  the  guns  and  ponies  must  be  given  up.  This  was  the 
price  of  Peace,  and  they  must  pay  it.  I  wanted  the  guns 
then,  and  would  take  the  ponies  when  we  reached  Keogh; 


HUNTING  LITTLE   WOLF. 

that  I  was  truly  and  heartily  glad  we  had  arranged  this 
matter  without  loss  of  life  on  either  side  ;  they  had  ears 
and  sense  ;  they  must  listen  and  use  their  reason  ;  there 
were  many  troops  and  Indian  scouts  in  the  country,  and  I 
thought  they  were  wise  to  surrender. 

"  Little  Wolf  said,  in  reply,  '  Since  I  left  you  at  Red 
Cloud  we  have  been  South,  and  have  suffered  a  great  deal 
down  there.  Many  have  died  of  diseases  which  we  have 
no  names  for.  Our  hearts  looked  and  longed  for  this 
country  where  we  were  born.  There  are  only  a  few  of  us 
left,  and  we  only  wanted  a  little  ground  where  we  could 
live.  We  left  our  lodges  standing,  and  ran  away  in  the 
night.  The  troops  followed  us.  1  rode  out  and  told  the 
troops  we  did  not  want  to  fight  ;  we  only  wanted  to  go 
North,  and  if  they  would  let  us  alone  we  would  kill  no  one. 
The  only  reply  we  got  was  a  volley.  After  that  we  had  to 
fight  our  way,  but  we  killed  none  who  did  not  fire  at  us 
first.  My  brother,  Dull  Knife,  took  one-half  of  the  band 
and  surrendered,  near  Camp  Robinson.  He  thought  you 
were  still  there  and  would  look  out  for  him.  They  gave 
up  their  guns,  and  then  the  whites  killed  them  all.  I  am 
out  in  the  prairie,  and  need  my  guns  here.  WThen  I  get 
to  Keogh  I  will  give  you  the  guns  and  ponies,  but  I  cannot 
give  up  the  guns  now.  You  are  the  only  one  who  has 
offered  to  talk  before  fighting,  and  it  looks  as  though  the 
wind,  which  has  made  our  hearts  flutter  for  so  long,  would 
now  go  down.  I  am  very  glad  we  did  not  fight,  and  that 
none  of  my  people  or  yours  are  killed.  My  young  men 
are  brave,  and  would  be  glad  to  go  with  you  to  fight  the 
Sioux/ 


INDIAN  SIGN  LANGUAGE. 


331 


"  One  or  two  others  followed  with  similar  remarks.  They 
were  suspicious,  and  the  idea  of  giving  up  guns,  at  once, 
startled  them,  and  in  the  fear  of  this,  to  them,  immediate 
danger,  forgot  the  future,  and  failed  to  ask  me  any  ques 
tions  about  staying  in  the  northern  country.  I  therefore 
held  them  to  the  terms  as  long  as  I  deemed  judicious,  and 
compromised  on  my  wagons  as  the  place  of  giving  up 
guns,  to  which  they  agreed.  I  felt  that  from  this  time  out 
they  would  camp  where  I  told  them,  and  I  could  reverse  our 
present  position  ;  and  though  I  had  no  fear  whatever  of 
any  trouble,  I  deemed  it  best  to  secure  this  advantage  at 
once.  I  therefore  told  them  to  pack  up  and  we  would 
move  out  a  short  distance  that  afternoon.  We  moved 
about  six  miles  and  camped.  I  issued  them  some  rations, 
and  Dr.  Sabin  kindly  looked  after  their  sick  and  cared  for 
their  wounded  ;  and  by  the  time  we  reached  our  wagons 
a  great  deal  of  confidence  had  been  restored  and  good  feel 
ing  really  established. 

"  While  the  command  was  out  the  thermometer  indicated 
33°  below  zero.  It  has  snowed  and  rained,  and  the  ice  has 
gone  out  of  the  streams,  leaving  them  swollen,  difficult 
and  dangerous  to  ford." 

####•#•  -A"  -X- 

"  WHITE  HAT"  AND  THE  SIGN  LANGUAGE. 

"  In  September,  1884,  a  party  of  army  officers,  cut  off  for 
a  week  from  mail  and  telegraph  communication,  whilst  pass 
ing  through  the  wilderness  between  Forts  McKinney  and 
Washakie,  was  approaching  the  latter  post,  when,  late  one 
night,  a  courier  arrived,  bringing  despatches  and  mail.  In 


332  HUNTING  LITTLE   WOLF. 

one  of  the  letters  the  death  of  Capt.  VV.  P.  Clark,  2<d  Cav 
alry,  was  mentioned.  A  day  or  two  afterward  the  courier, 
who  was  the  Post  guide  and  interpreter  at  Washakie,  told 
us  something  which  excited  great  curiosity  and  surprise.  A 
few  days  before  leaving,  he  was  riding  some  miles  from  the 
Post  when  he  met  an  Indian,  who,  without  uttering  a  word, 
and  by  means  of  the  sign  language  alone,  told  him  that  Cap 
tain  Clark  was  dead  !  The  Indian  had  heard  the  news  at 
the  Agency,  and  imparted  it  to  a  man  of  whose  language  he 
could  not  speak  a  word.  Now  that  Indians,  like  deaf-mutes, 
could  communicate  by  *  signs '  we  all  know,  but  here  was 
an  unexpected  event,  occurring  thousands  of  miles  away,  and 
yet  this  Indian,  without  using  his  tongue  at  all,  was  en 
abled  to  communicate  it  to  another.  The  assertion  was  at 
first  startling.  Captain  Clark,  although  known  in  person  to 
many  of  the  Plains  Indians,  could  be  known  by  his  name  to 
the  very  few  capable  of  speaking  English,  but  those  who- 
did  know  him  must  have  some  way  of  designating  him,  and 
here  was  the  key  to  the  whole  mystery.  Indians  designate 
each  other  by  some  attribute  of  the  person,  or  by  some  in 
cident  in  the  life  of  the  person  referred  to.  Captain  Clark, 
while  serving  with  Indian  scouts,  wore  a  white  felt  hat,  and 
hence  was  known  as  '  the  Chief  with  the  White  Hat.'  His 
proficiency  in  the  sign  language  was  such  as  to  make  him  a 
marked  man  among  them,  and  hence  it  was  easy  for  an 
Indian  to  designate  him  as  '  the  Chief  of  the  White  Hat, 
who  talked  so  well  with  his  hands.'  Of  course,  if  the  man 
spoken  to  had  not  known  of  Captain  Clark  he  could  not 
have  guessed  who  was  alluded  to,  nor  indeed  could  you  or  I 
know  who  was  alluded  to  when  Washington's  name  was 


GENERAL  GIBBON'S  TESTIMONY.  333 

mentioned,  if  we  had  never  before  heard  of  him.  All  can 
understand  how  the  person  once  being  designated,  it  was 
an  easy  matter  for  the  Indian  to  state  by  signs  that  he  had 
gone  to  sleep,  died  or  *  gone  under.' 

"  The  distinguished  officer,  whose  death  was  in  this  way 
spread  amongst  the  people  who  held  him  in  high  regard, 
left  behind  him  a  lasting  monument  of  his  skill,  industry 
and  untiring  energy.  His  book  on  the  'sign  language'  ex 
hibits  not  only  these  qualities,  but  deep  and  careful  re 
search."  * 


*  General  John  Gibbon,  U.  S.  A.,  in  Journal  Military  Service  Institution  U.  S. 


THE   LATE   MAJOR   T.    T.    THORNKURGH. 
334 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


T 


HE  chronicles  of  the 
contests  between 
the  red  and  white  men 
of  North  America  are 
thrilling  stories  of  hu 
man  fortitude,  self-sacri 
fice  and  military  adven 
ture. 

From  the  moment 
when  the  daring  De 
Soto  landed  at  Tampa, 
in  the  Land  of  Flowers, 
down  through  three 
centuries  of  white  set 
tlement  to  the  latest 
Apache  outrage  in  Ari 
zona,  our  Indian  annals 

It  /If     1^'    \  abound  with  the  details 

of-  small  wars,  broken  treaties  and  bloody  massacres  ;  and 
there  is  something  sad  in  the  thought  that  the  countless 
hordes  once  roaming  free  as  air,  upon  their  own  hunting- 
grounds,  from  Plymouth  Rock  to  the  Golden  Gate,  have 
dwindled,  by  dissipation,  disease  and  violent  death,  to  a  few 
thousand  souls.  These,  driven  toward  the  setting  sun,  from 

335 


336 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


one  strip  of  earth — one  Naboth's  vineyard — to  another,  will 
finally,  perhaps  from  the  verge  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  turn  a 
last  look  backward  ere  they  plunge  into  oblivion.  The 
present  savage  generation  is  doomed. 

Its  children  will  become  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
cast  a  vote  at  elections,  and  share  in  the  pleasure  and  pain 
of  office-holding ;  but  the  fathers — the  Noble  Savage  of 
Cooper's  novels,  and  the  ruthless  rovers  of  the  present 
day — will  have  vanished  from  the  scene. 

In  the  year  1879,  among  the  most  warlike  tribes  was  that 
of  the  Utes,  a  name  once  given  to  all  the  Indians  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains  as  far  as  Nevada,  and  south,  includ 
ing  New  Mexico  and  Arizona ;  a  name  since  given  to  the 
territory  of  the  Mormons,  known  as  Utah.  At  that  time 
the  four  principal  bands  numbered  about  four  thousand, 
of  whom  eight  hundred  were  located  upon  a  Government 
reservation,  on  the  White  River,  in  Northern  Colorado. 

These  "  oldest  inhabitants "  had  accepted  certain  gifts 
from  the  United  States  to  be  paid  them  annually,  and  had 
in  turn  given  up  all  claim  to  millions  of  acres  of  land.  A 
very  large  tract  had,  however,  been  set  aside  for  the  White 
River  Utes,  where  they  might  hunt,  fish  and  graze  their 
herds  of  ponies.  These  ponies  are  very  hardy  animals,  and 
nearly  every  Indian  could  boast  of  at  least  twenty,  as  an 
evidence  of  wealth  and  social  standing. 

But  although  their  chiefs  had  agreed  to  this  arrangement, 
the  young  men,  or  "bucks,"  were  not  satisfied  with  the 
limits  of  the  reservation,  but  in  small  parties  roamed  about 
outside,  among  the  settlers,  hunting  the  grizzly,  the  moun 
tain  lion  and  the  buffalo,  for  the  skins;  in  doing  this  they 


INDIAN  INFANTR  Y  AND  CA  VALR  Y. 

would  sometimes,  to  the  injury  of  the  settlers,  set  fire  to  the 
magnificent  forests  abounding  in  that  region.  The  great 
grazing  grounds  of  the  buffalo  are  in  the  North-west,  near 
the  Canadian  border,  and  in  the  South-west  near  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  Grande.  Between  these  points,  at  certain  times 
of  the  year,  vast  herds  are  in  motion.  Then  the  Indians  of 
the  Plains  (like  the  Sioux),  and  those  of  the  mountains  (like 
the  Utes)  get  up  large  hunting-parties.  These  two  tribes 
are  hereditary  enemies,  and  fight  when  they  meet.  On  the 
Plains,  the  Ute,  who  is  a  natural  infantry  soldier,  is  at  a  dis 
advantage  ;  but  should  the  Sioux  horseman  venture  too 
near  the  mountains,  a  shot  from  behind  an  innocent-looking 
rock  is  apt  to  remind  him  of  his  danger,  if  it  does  not,  then 
and  there,  put  a  stop  to  his  career. 

INDIAN   AGENT   MEEKER. 

Upon  each  Indian  reservation  there  lives  a  white  man, 
who  represents  the  Government  and  makes  known,  from 
time  to  time,  the  wants  and  condition  of  the  Indians.  In 
1879,  the  Agent  at  White  River  was  Mr.  Meeker,  a  kind- 
hearted,  zealous  man,  who  did  not  realize  the  fierce  nature 
of  his  wards,  but  hoped  to  persuade  the  Utes  to  give  up 
their  ponies  and  take  to  ploughing,  and  become  industrious 
citizens.  He  also  proposed  to  change  the  location  of  their 
camps  and  of  the  Agency  buildings.  Against  all  this  the 
majority  rebelled. 

In  their  eyes  the  "  buck  "  who  had  not  "  heap  ponies" 
was  of  no  account ;  labor  was  all  very  well  for  the  poor 
whites,  but  it  degraded  the  noble  reds  ;  horse-racing  was  a 


338 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


time-honored  amusement  of  their  people ;  it  improved  the 
stock  and  trained  the  warrior. 

But  the  Agent  was  not  discouraged.  His  daughter 
taught  an  Indian  school  for  the  few  children  who  were 
permitted  by  their  parents  to  come.  Twenty-five  Indians 
agreed  to  dig  a  ditch  across  the  Agency  farm  for  fifteen 
dollars  a  month,  and,  as  the  Agent  reported,  did  it  well ;  but 
they  stopped  at  the  end  of  the  first  month.  Some  of  the 
squaws  were  taught  to  milk  a  cow  and  to  make  butter,  and 
for  awhile  this  was  a  fashionable  amusement ;  but  as  the 
cows  were  wild  when  taken  from  the  herd,  and  at  every 
milking  had  to  be  Rareyized  with  straps  and  ropes,  the 
Indians  soon  tired.  Then  Johnson,  one  of  the  sub-chiefs, 
pretended  to  want  to  become  a  farmer,  and  demanded 
wagons  and  farming  implements  and  a  house.  He  brought 
to  the  Agency  two  vicious  Indian  ponies  (that  had  never 
had  a  white  hand  nor  a  bit  of  harness  leather  upon  them) 
to  be  broken  by  the  white  teamsters ;  but  after  a  fort 
night's  work  by  one  of  the  employes,  it  was  found  to  be 
a  shrewd  trick  of  Johnson's  to  fatten  his  ponies  upon  Uncle 
Sam's  hay,  in  order  to  beat  a  rival's  horses  at  a  coming  race. 

COMING   EVENTS   CAST    SHADOWS. 

In  fact,  to  any  but  the  Agent  the  signs  of  coming  mis 
chief  were  plain.  The  Indians  became  impertinent,  went 
off  and  on  the  reservation  as  they  pleased,  bought  large 
quantities  of  cartridges  for  the  Winchester  breech-loaders 
with  which  they  were  armed,  and  one  day  in  August  shot 
at  the  Agency  ploughman  as  he  was  quietly  turning  a 
furrow. 


OURAY. 


339 


340 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


SOME  INDIAN  TYPES. 

Yet  there  were  some  in 
teresting  characters  among 
these  people.  The  head 
chief,  "  Ouray,"  was  a  noble 
specimen  of  a  patriarch. 
He  had  flocks  and  herds, 
and  a  large  farm,  cultivat 
ed  by  Mexicans  whom  he 
employed.  He  rode  about 
the  country  in  a  handsome 
"  Germantown  Wagon,"  pre 
sented  by  the  Governor  of 
Colorado.  He  also  had  a 
substantial  bank  account  in 
Denver,  to  which  every 
year  the  Government  added 
one  thousand  dollars,  in  ex 
change  for  his  good  influence  with  his  people. 

Some  of  the  sub-chiefs  did  not  come  up  to  this  high 
standard.  For  instance,  "  Ute  Jack/'  who  was  a  bitter 
enemy  of  the  whites,  although  for  a  time  he  managed  to 
conceal  it ;  "  Piah,"  who  was  suspected  of  setting  the  woods 
on  fire  that  the  game  might  be  driven  out  where  he  might 
kill  it  without  too  much  trouble. 

"  Bill "  was  still  another  bad  fellow  to  meet  in  the  dark, 
with  savage  qualities  well  developed.  He  once  boasted 
that  no  lead  could  kill  him.  A  comrade  kindly  offered  to 
test  the  matter.  "  Bill  "  stood  up,  folded  his  arms,  and,  as 


ANTELOPE  " — OURAY'S    RUNNER. 


A   TOUGH  FELLOW. 


341 


the  other  aimed  his  rifle,  gave  the  word  "  Fire! "  The 
bullet  went  through  his  left  side,  breaking  a  rib,  but  not 
touching  a  vital  part.  "Bill"  staggered  slightly,  put  his 
hand  to  his  side,  laughed  and  said,  "  I  told  you  lead  no  kill 
me."  He  was  laid  up  for  a  couple  of  weeks  and  came  out 
all  right. 

One  afternoon  in  the 
early  part  of  September, 
Indian  Agent  Meeker 
was  sitting  at  his  desk, 
musing  over  the  trouble 
some  state  of  affairs  in 
his  dominion,  when  the 
door  opened  behind  him, 
and  a  rush  of  many  feet 
fell  upon  his  ear.  Be 
fore  he  could  turn  around 
he  was  seized  by  the 
shoulders,  thrown  down 
and  severely  kicked  ;  he 
was  conscious  of  being 
dragged  to  the  door  of 
his  office,  and  hearing 
voices  in  loud  and  angry  tones,  and  then  everything 
became  dark.  When  he  came  to  himself  he  was  lying 
on  a  bed  in  his  own  house,  surrounded  by  his  family. 
The  Agent,  although  severely  shaken  and  hurt,  realized 
that  the  moment  had  come  for  action  ;  that  he  was  power 
less  to  control  the  bad  elements,  and  that  he  must  call 
upon  the  army  for  help.  Without  a  moment's  delay  he 


BILL. 


342 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


sent  the  following  telegram  to  the   Commissioner  in   Wash 
ington. 

"Sir:  I  have  been  assaulted  by  a  leading  chief,  Johnson,  forced  out  of  my 
own  house  and  injured  badly,  but  was  rescued  by  employes.  It  is  now  re 
vealed  that  Johnson  originated  all  the  trouble  stated  in  letter  Sept.  8.  His  son 
shot  at  the  ploughman,  and  the  opposition  to  ploughing  is  wide.  Ploughing 
stops ;  life  of  self,  family  and  employes  not  safe  ;  want  protection  immediately ; 
have  asked  Governor  Pitkin  to  confer  with  General  Pope." 

Imagine  yourself,  friendly  reader,  upon  an  oasis  in  the 
desert,  surrounded  by  several  hundred  well-armed  savages, 
who  regard  you  as  an  enemy,  and  suspect  that  you  have 
sent  for  the  means  of  punishing  them.  Imagine,  further, 
that  this  spot  is  two  hundred  miles  from  any  Government 
aid,  and  fifty  miles  from  the  nearest  settlement,  and  that 
your  available  force  consists  of  eight  white  men,  embarrassed 
by  the  presence  of  helpless  women  and  children  !  If  you 
can  thus  put  yourself  in  his  place  you  may  realize  the 
Agent's  terrible  plight.  But  the  lightning  was  at  work, 
and  within  forty-eight  hours  his  appeal  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Indian  Affairs  had  been  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and 
orders  were  flashed  back  to  the  commandant  at  Fort  Steele, 
two  thousand  miles  from  Washington,  to  go  to  White  River 
and  straighten  out  matters. 

THORNBURGH'S  MARCH. 

The  last  note  of  the  "  Retreat  "  was  dying  away  upon  the 
early  Autumn  air  at  Fort  Fred  Steele,  as  the  door  of  the 
commanding  officer's  quarters  opened  and  Major  Thorn- 
burgh,  of  the  Fourth  Infantry,  appeared  upon  the  threshold. 

If  the  pleasant  piazza  could  not  boast  of  a  fig-tree,  there 


MAJOR  THORNBURGH.  343 

\vas  no  lack  of  vine,  and  during  the  hot  summer  days  its 
grateful  shade  had  been  enjoyed  by  more  than  'one  roman 
tic  couple. 

The  Major  was  a  stalwart,  handsome  soldier  in  the  prime 
of  life,  with  a  frank  look  in  his  dark  eyes  and  a  firm  expres 
sion  of  the  mouth,  scarcely  concealed  by  the  heavy  mus 
tache  and  whiskers  that  framed  his  countenance. 

He  was  one  of  the  youngest  officers  of  his  rank  in  the 
Army,  but  although  his  advancement  in  the  regular  service 
.had  been  unusually  rapid,  few  officers  were  better  equipped 
by  education  and  general  experience  for  a  commission. 
He  had  tasted  of  the  horrors  of  War  as  a  volunteer  private 
soldier,  and  afterward  had  studied  the  theory  of  the  Great 
Art  at  West  Point.  After  a  short  service  as  a  subaltern  of 
artillery,  he  was  made  a  paymaster,  but  preferring  the 
saddle  and  the  sabre  to  an  office  chair  and  an  official 
check-book,  had  availed  himself  of  a  chance  to  transfer  to 
the  Line. 

Thornburgh  was  not  only  a  fine  horseman,  but  of  a  won 
derful  dexterity  in  the  use  of  fire-arms.  On  one  occasion 
he  nearly  equalled  the  score  of  the  marksman,  Doctor  Car 
ver,  at  one  of  that  expert's  public  exhibitions.  At  another 
time  he  made  a  practical  use  of  his  accomplishment  by  as 
tonishing  some  Sioux  Indians,  after  a  council,  as  they  were 
sneering  in  a  half  playful,  half  earnest  way  at  the  superi 
ority  of  their  Winchester  breech-loaders  over  the  soldiers' 
carbines.  Picking  up  one  of  the  despised  weapons  and 
offering  to  give  them  all  the  half-dollars  which,  when  thrown 
in  the  air,  he  might  fail  to  hit  before  they  touched  the 
ground,  he  commenced  firing.  To  their  amazement,  nine 


344  BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 

out  of  ten  pieces  were  split  by  his  bullets;  then  silver  quar 
ters  were  thrown,  with  the  same  result ;  until,  as  a  last  test, 
"nickels"  were  tossed,  to  fare  no  better  than  the  other 
coins.  The  Ihdians  were  deeply  impressed,  and  as  shot 
after  shot  took  effect,  grunts  of  wonder  and  approval  in 
creased,  until  a  warrior — known  as  "  Young-Man-afraid-of- 
his-Horses  " — came  forward,  put  out  his  hand,  and  with  the 
usual  Indian  salutation  "  How  !  "  said  to  Thornburgh  that 
they  wished  to  give  him  a  name  which  means  "  The-Chief- 
who-Shoots-the-Stars. ' ' 

FORT   FRED    STEELE. 

Fort  Fred  Steele,  Wyoming  Territory,  was  a  military  post 
of  some  importance  on  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  where  it 
crosses  th.e  north  fork  of  the  Platte  River.  It  was  the 
nearest  fort  to  the  White  River  Agency,  which  laid  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  south  of  the  railroad.  The  garrison 
consisted  of  one  troop  of  cavalry  and  two  companies  of  in 
fantry. 

As  the  genial  commander  somewhat  impatiently  "  paced 
the  deck  "  of  his  veranda,  a  mounted  soldier  dashed  up  to 
the  door  of  the  Adjutant's  office  with  a  mail-bag,  and  in 
due  time  a  portion  of  its  contents  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  expectant  officer.  In  a  few  minutes  he  called 
"Orderly!"  "Yes,  sir!"  came  the  prompt  response  from 
the  precincts  of  the  kitchen,  where  Private  O'Malley,  com 
bining  business  with  pleasure,  had  been  having  a  few  words 
with  the  cook  relative  to  the  extra  supper,  which  was  one  of 
the  advantages  of  being  the  commanding  officer's  orderly  at 
Fort  Steele. 


A  TYPICAL  "REGULAR."  ^4$ 

PRIVATE  O'MALLEY. 

An  exceptionally  fine  specimen  of  the  American  "  regu 
lar  "  appeared  and  saluted.  Of  medium  height,  compactly 
built,  without  any  surplus  flesh  upon  his  bones,  thanks  to 
the  constant  and  wholesome  training  which  a  soldier  on  the 
frontier  undergoes,  Private  O'Malley  of  the  Fourth  Infan 
try  carried  his  credentials  for  honesty  and  intelligence  in 
his  cleanly-shaven,  bronzed  visage,  and  in  his  well  set  up, 
erect  figure ;  carried  after  a  fashion  described  in  the  tactics 
as  "  straight  without  stiffness," — the  true  martial  bearing 
seldom  attained  by  the  amateur.  It  goes  without  saying 
that  Private  O'Malley  was  immaculate  in  dress,  otherwise 
he  would  not  have  been  picked  out  that  morning  at  guard- 
mounting  ;  and  because  of  his  general  fitness  it  was  almost 
hopeless  for  the  other  men  to  compete  with  him.  The 
Adjutant  had  been  known  to  pause  before  two  of  the  guard 
at  inspection,  in  doubt  as  to  the  selection.  Kelly's  brasses 
were  as  dazzling  to  the  eye  as  O'Malley's;  their  clothing 
was  equally  fresh  and  well-fitting  ;  accoutrements  perfectly 
adjusted  ;  arms  clean  as  when  turned  out  at  Springfield 
Armory ;  and  a  competitive  drill  in  the  manual  failed  to 
solve  the  problem.  The  perplexed  Adjutant  tried  another 
test :  the  men  were  sent  to  the  office  for  an  inspection  of 
underclothing,  with  a  provokingly  spotless  result.  Finally, 
the  Dromios  in  blue  were  tested  in  the  duties  of  a  military 
messenger;  in  an  unguarded  moment  Kelly  omitted  some 
point,  only  to  be  observed  through  an  Adjutant's  micro 
scope,  and  O'Malley  marched  off  triumphantly.  There  was 
just  enough  of  "  the  thinking  bayonet  "  about  the  man  for 


346 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


practical  purposes,  but  it  never  came  to  the  surface  at  the 
wrong  time. 

"  The  Commanding  Officer's  compliments,  Sir,  and  he'd 
like  to  see  the  Adjutant  at  his  quarters,"  was  the  message 
brought  by  the  Orderly  while  we  have  been  discussing  his 
good  points. 

The  Adjutant  found  his  superior  officer  in  the  library,  an 
apartment  combining  the  comfort  of  a  smoking-room  with 
the  convenience  of  a  business  office.  The  trophies  of  the 
chase  and  a  few  rare  engravings  which  ornamented  the  walls 
indicated  the  tastes  of  the  master  of  the  house,  while  some 
exceedingly  comfortable  chairs  and  an  open  box  of  cigars 
gave  an  air  of  hospitality  not,  by  any  means,  misleading. 
As  the  visitor  entered,  a  noble  Irish  deer-hound  rose  from 
his  place  on  a  huge  bear-skin  in  front  of  the  fireplace,  and 
thrust  his  nose  forward  in  mute  welcome. 

"  Mr.  Brown,  I,  have  just  received  orders  from  General 
Crook  to  proceed  with  a  detachment  to  White  River  Agency 
and  support  the  Agent,  who  is  having  trouble  with  the  Utes. 
Lawson's  troop  and  Price's  company  will  go  from  this  post, 
and  two  troops  of  the  Fifth  Cavalry  will  report  from  Rus. 
sell.  We  shall  probably  move  about  the  2Oth.  Let  all 
extra-duty  men  report  to  their  companies,  and  get  out  the 
necessary  orders  at  once." 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  and,  as  he  turned  to  go,  the  Adjutant 
said :  "  Do  you  expect  any  trouble  at  White  River,  Ma 
jor?  " 

"  It  is  hard  to  say ;  it  is  possible  that  the  Agent  has  let 
matters  drift  too  long.  Meeker  doesn't  scare  easily,  and 
has  been  jealous  of  military  interference  ;  and  things  must 


PREPARING  TO  MARCH. 


347 


look  rather  blue  when  he  feels  compelled  to  call  for  troops. 
At  any  rate,  it  will  be  a  good  tramp  for  us." 

"  By  the  way,  Major,  I  heard  that  a  troop  of  the  Ninth 
Cavalry  has  been  ordered  down  in  the  vicinity  of  Steam 
boat  Springs,  at  the  request  of  Governor  Pitkin.  The  set 
tlers  have  been  getting  uneasy  since  those  forest  fires." 

"  Well,  I  am  not  so  sure  that  the  Indians  had  anything  to 
do  with  those  fires  ;  in  fact,  all  trustworthy  reports  are  to 
the  contrary." 

"  Is  there  anything  else,  Major?"  said  the  Adjutant. 

"Yes,  you  may  have  O'Malley  detailed  as  permanent 
orderly.  He  is  a  good  groom  and  an  excellent  man  in  the 
field.  He  can  ride  one  of  my  horses  on  the  march." 

"  Very  well,  sir.     Good-morning." 

The  official  kerosene  burned  late  that  night ;  in  the  office, 
where  the  staff  were  getting  out  orders  and  requisitions,  and 
in  the  cook-houses,  where  rations  were  bubbling  in  caldrons 
of  witch-like  proportions  and  blackness. 

THE  START. 

The  morning  of  Sunday,  the  twenty-first,  was  bright  and 
bracing,  and  the  troops  as  they  assembled  for  the  march  to 
White  River  wore  a  holiday  look  ;  so  comfortable  and  ser 
viceable  were  all  the  appointments,  so  glossy  the  coats  of 
the  horses,  so  cheerful  the  men,  so  natty  the  officers.  It 
might  have  been  a  picnic,  excepting  for  one  or  two  things. 
People  do  not  usually  go  picnicing  armed  "  to  the  teeth," 
their  saddles  heavily  packed,  and  with  an  ambulance  or 
two  ;  and  those  who  come  to  the  send-off  do  not  usually 
wear  so  serious  an  air,  nor  are  there  so  many  women  strug- 


348 


BESIEGED  B  Y  THE  UTES. 


gling  with  tears  and  forebodings.  But  as  General  Wolfe  is 
said  to  have  remarked  the  night  before  the  storming  of 
Quebec  : 

"  Why,  soldiers,  why 

Should  we  be  melancholy  boys  ? 
Why,  soldiers,  why  ? 
Whose  business  'tis  to  die." 

And  so  the  majority  took  their  cues  from  the  sun  and 
beamed  on  each  other,  and  looked  approvingly  upon  the 
Adjutant,  Mr.  Cherry,  who  rode  up  and  down  the  column, 
occasionally,  to  see  that  the  different  parts  of  the  machine 
were  working  smoothly. 

Lieutenant  Cherry  of  the  Fifth  Horse  was  a  general  favor 
ite.  He  was  handsome  of  face,  brawny  of  frame,  tall  of 
stature,  and  generous  of  nature.  At  West  Point  he  had 
proved  the  nobility  of  his  character.  One  day,  at  artillery 
drill,  he  was  stationed  with  a  companion  on  the  same  side  of 
the  gun.  In  shifting  the  piece,  which  weighed  nearly  a 
thousand  pounds,  something  in  the  carriage  gave  way  and 
the  ponderous  mass  of  metal  slowly  slid  over  toward 
Cherry's  comrade,  who  was  physically  small  and  delicate. 
In  an  instant  Cadet  Cherry  sprang  in  front  of  the  boy, 
against  the  piece,  and  for  a  few  seconds  held  it,  while  the 
other  instinctively  jumped  aside.  This,  Cherry  could  not 
now  do,  and  before  he  could  be  extricated,  the  heavy  cannon 
settled  down,  pinning  the  gallant  fellow  to  the. ground. 
He  had  saved  his  friend  at  the  expense  of  a  broken  thigh, 
which  laid  him  up  in  hospital  for  a  long  time  and  delayed 
his  graduation. 

Major   Thornburgh   was   quietly   plodding    along  at   the 


349 

head  of  his  command  upon  a  well-bred,  hunter-like  animal, 
with  the  dapper  O'Malley  in  close  attendance,  astride  of  the 
commanding  officer's  spare  mount.  It  was  a  goodly  sight 
as  the  column  "  pulled  out  "  on  the  trail.  First,  a  platoon 
to  furnish  the  advance  guard,  and  a  few  "  flankers  "  (men  to 
ride  on  each  side  of  the  road  and  watch  for  the  enemy),  then 
the  leading  squadron  ;  the  infantry  in  wagons  ;  the  train  ;  with 
Lawson's  troop  bringing  up  the  rear  of  the  column.  As  the 
men's  sabres  had  been  left  behind  in  garrison  there  was  no 
clanking  of  scabbards,  but,  instead,  a  subdued  clatter  of  can 
teens,  haversacks  and  nosebags,  a  rumble  of  wheels,  muffled 
hoof-beats  on  the  soft  turf,  an  occasional  snort  from  a  chaf 
ing  horse,  and  an  undercurrent  of  low  laughter  and  soldier 
chaff  which  mark  the  freedom  of  a  prairie  march,  or,  as  they 
say  in  the  infantry,  "  the  route  step." 

NATURE   OF   THE   COUNTRY. 

The  expedition  met  with  ao  adventures  for  the  first  hun 
dred  miles.  The  road  led  over  a  curious  country,  not  un 
like  the  bed  of  some  vast  ocean.  Now,  between  rolling 
hills,  over  dry  and  barren  plains  ;  at  distances  of  twenty  or 
thirty  miles,  a  small  river  or  creek  ;  then  up,  slowly  and 
painfully,  over  great  sandstone  cliffs  overlooking  immense 
valleys,  covered  with  short  grass  on  which  herds  of  antelopes 
grazed  peacefully,  side  by  side  with  the  thousands  of  cattle 
belonging  to  the  ranchmen  who  had  settled  there  ;  in  fact, 
the  whole  country  was  a  grand,  far-reaching  series  of  mesas* 
separated  by  ravines  or  canons.  Here  and  there  were  red 

*High  hills  with  flat  tops. 


350 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


and  yellow  masses  of  scrub-oak  and  sage  brush  foliage. 
Eighty  miles  from  Rawlins  the  soldiers  reached  the  Snake 
River, — so  called  from  its  winding  course, — about  seventy- 
five  feet  broad  and  a  foot  deep. 

FORTIFICATION   CREEK. 

Onward,  through  heavy  sand  and  by  cultivated  fields, 
Major  Thornburgh's  men  approached  Fortification  Creek 
and  a  great  natural  curiosity.  It  is  a  wall  of  solid  porphyry, 
running  east  and  west,  one  end  terminating  at  the  eastern 
side  of  the  road.  It  is  from  thirty-five  to  one  hundred  feet 
high,  shaped  at  the  top  in  fantastic  turrets,  and  upon  one 
side  the  porphyry  bears  a  coloring  of  dark  brown,  varied  by 
patches  of  the  richest  crimson,  where  the  snow,  rain  and 
wind  have  polished  its  surface, — surpassing  the  finest  lac 
quer  of  Japan,  and  glittering  in  the  sunlight  like  a  mountain 
of  rubies.  Captain  McCauley,  who  surveyed  the  road  in 
1878,  says  of  Fortification  Creek  :  "  It  is  said  to  have  been 
so  named  from  an  actual  fight  there  occurring  between 
several  Indian  tribes,  who  made  use  of  this  line  of  nature  ; 
and  upon  its  top  small  piles  of  rocks,  near  the  road,  were 
pointed  out  by  the  guide  as  having  been  placed  there  by 
one  of  the  contesting  bands." 

At  Fortification  Creek,  the  infantry  under  Lieutenant 
Price  were  left,  with  orders  to  establish  a  supply  camp, 
while  the  rest  of  the  command  pushed  on  for  nearly  twenty 
miles,  going  into  camp  early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  26th. 
in  the  lovely  vale  of  the  Yampah  (or  Bear)  River. 


"  UTE  JACK." 


351 


SUSPICIOUS  VISITORS. 

After  the  usual  orders  for  protecting  the  camp   had  been 
given,   the  commanding  officer,   surrounded   by  several   of 

his    subordinates,    was 
enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest,     when     a     small 
party     was     seen     ap 
proaching,    under    the 
guidance  of  a  mounted 
corporal  of  the  guard. 
It   proved  to  be  "  Ute 
Jack  "  and   several  fol 
lowers,  evidently  come 
"  to  spy  out  the  land." 
[-They  were   invited    to 
|  join    the    group,     and 
|j  seating  themselves  on 
||  the      ground     without 
~  ceremony,  and  accept 
ing  some  tobacco,  they 
were  soon   "  blowing  a 
cloud  "  with  the  pale 
faces. 

Jack  was  rather  talk 
ative,   in   broken    Eng- 

"  UTE  JACK." 

hsh,    and    referred     to 

his  visit  to  the  East  a  year  or  two  before,  remarking  of 
the  great  metropolis  that  "  New  York  pretty  good,"  "  Pretty 
good  theatre  in  New  York."  Ever  and  anon,  however,  he 


352 


BESIEGED  BY  THE   UTES. 


would  turn  to  one  of  the  officers  with  the  question,  "  What 
for  you  come?"  "What  soldiers  going  to  do?"  Of 
course  every  effort  was  made  to  impress  him  with  the 
peaceful  intentions  of  the  troops,  but  soon  Jack  would  ask 
the  same  thing  over  again,  showing  how  little  impression 
the  soft  words  had  made  upon  him.  He  spoke  bitterly  of 
Agent  Meeker,  who,  he  said,  had  promised  him,  among 
other  things,  a  wagon  "  with  heap  red  paint  on  it,"  but 
instead  sent  him  a  blue  one.  The  Indians,  after  disposing 
of  a  meal,  not  "  square  "  but  cubic,  as  it  was  very  long, 
broad  and  thick,  and  included  the  additional  luxury  of  the 
only  box  of  Rcina  Victorias  in  camp,  left  the  soldiers,  ap 
parently  in  good  humor. 

The  next  day  the  advance  was  resumed  through  the 
wildest  and  most  beautiful  scenery  imaginable,  and  after  a 
short  march,  a  camp  was  pitched  by  the  side  of  a  sparkling 
stream,  fringed  with  weeping  willows,  its  banks  covered  with 
a  thick  carpet  of  grass,  in  which  the  tired  animals  revelled. 

Another  visit  was  paid  by  the  Utes — this  time  a  party 
consisting  of  "  Colorow,"  a  White  River  chief  of  poor  rep 
utation,  "  Bummer  Jim,"  "  Henry,"  the  Agency  interpreter, 
and  one  or  two  others.  These  were  at  first  more  reserved 
in  manner  than  "  Jack  "  and  his  friends,  but  after  awhile 
grew  more  sociable.  "  Colorow  "  did  not  thaw  much  even, 
when,  failing  to  see  any  Reina  Victorias  in  sight,  he  coolly 
drew  into  the  folds  of  his  blanket  a  precious  bale  of  "  Kil- 
likinnick  "  tobacco.  The  rascals  had  commenced  to  loot 
already  !  Waxing  familiar,  "  Henry  "  proposed  that  the 
tallest  two  of  the  officers  present — probably  Thornburgh  and 
Cherry — should  measure  heights  with  himself  and  "  Bum- 


THE  HOME  OF  THE   TITANS, 


353 


mer  Jim,"  who  was  very  large  and  athletic.  To  amuse  the 
savages,  the  caprice  was  gratified.  In  the  light  of  later 
events  this  proceeding  smacked  somewhat  of  the  under 
taker's  craft,  although,  perhaps,  only  meant  to  gratify  a 
barbaric  vanity.  Again  the  "  Reds  "  departed  with  signs 
of  good-will. 

The  last  march  but  one  was  through  a  region  described 
by  an  officer  in  such  graphic  terms  that  we  cannot  forbear 
quoting:  "  From  Williams'  Fork  the  road,  still  going  south, 
enters  the  canon  of  a  small  mountain  rivulet,  and  at  a  dis 
tance  of  three  miles  bears  sharply  off  to  the  right,  when  in 
a  pretty  little  park  we  found  several  sweet  springs  overhung 
by  masses  of  red  sandstone,  in  some  places  eroded  by  the 
action  of  wind  and  water  into  forms  of  fantastic  beauty  ;  in 
others,  piled  rock  upon  rock,  in  inextricable  confusion,  as  if 
the  Titans  had  been  playing  at  bowls  in  the  long,  long  ago. 
On  our  right  a  mountain,  grim,  brown,  bare,  rose  to  an  alti 
tude  of  three  thousand  feet ;  on  the  left  the  peaks  shot 
skyward,  their  crests  wearing  the  foliated  aspect  of  cathedral 
spires,  and  the  feathery  plumes  of  smoke  from  the  burn 
ing  timber  floating  between  us  and  the  sun  were  beau 
tiful  with  the  tints  of  golden  bronze."  * 

Major  Thornburgh  broke  camp  on  the  morning  of  the  2Qth 
of  September,  intending  to  go  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  Agency  with  his  men,  put  them  in  camp,  and  then,  ac 
companied  by  the  Agent  (who  had  been  requested  to  meet 
him)  and  five  soldiers,  to  go  to  Meeker's  house  and  have  a 
"talk"  with  the  Indians.  "Jack,"  when  visiting  Thorn- 


*  Captain  Payne,  in  United  Service  Magazine ,  Jan.,  1880. 
23 


354 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


burgh's  camp,  had  tried  to  persuade  that  officer  to  leave  his 
command  then  and  go  to  the  Agency  with  a  nominal  escort, 
but  his  advice  was  not  taken,  although  Jack's  motives  were 
not  then  suspected. 

"At  half-past  nine  the  same  morning,"  wrote  Captain 
Payne,  "  we  reached  the  high  ground  overlooking  Milk  River. 
Descending  the  hill  a  fine  landscape  lay  before  us:  a  small 
stream  running  softly  down  a  narrow  valley  ;  on  the  right 
hand,  a  mile  off,  a  line  of  bluffs,  continuous  and  inaccessible, 
with  broken  ridges  nearer  the  creek ;  on  the  left,  rounded 
knolls,  and  what  our  English  friends  call  "  downs,"  furrowed 
with  arroyas,  and  running  back  to  the  high  hills  which  form 
the  advance  guard  of  the  White  River  Mountains.  The  air 
was  soft  and  balmy  as  with  the  breath  of  the  sweet  South, 
and  the  bright  sunshine,  shooting  in  broad  flashes  across  the 
hill-tops,  filled  the  valley  as  with  liquid  gold.  Save  in  the 
long  column  which,  dismounted,  was  winding  its  way  down 
the  hill,  not  a  living  creature  was  in  sight.  Earth  and  sky 
were  fair  to  behold,  and  the  pictured  calm  seemed  the  very 
symbol  of  Peace." 

THE  FIGHT   AT   MILK  RIVER. 

The  command  halted  a  moment  and  watered  the  horses 
in  the  stream,  which  takes  its  name  and  appearance  from  the 
lime  soil  through  which  it  flows. 

Major  Thornburgh  moved  down  the  creek  a  short  distance 
and  crossed,  with  two  companies,  leaving  the  other  troop 
(D)  of  the  Fifth  to  come  on  more  slowly,  with  the  wagons. 
Suddenly  Lieutenant  Cherry,  who  was  with  the  advance, 
saw  in  front  and  on  the  right,  posted  along  the  bluffs  com- 


A  BA  TTLE-INTRENCHMENT. 


355 


manding  the  road,  a  number  of  Indians.  He  instantly  sig 
nalled  his  commander  to  halt.  The  troops  were  instantly 
dismounted  and  deployed  on  both  sides  of  the  road.  Loth 
to  begin  a  fight  if  it  could  be  prevented,  in  accordance 
with  instructions  received  from  his  department  commander, 
Thornburgh,  accompanied  by  Cherry,  advanced  in  person  and 
made  signs  to  the  Indians  for  a  parley.  The  reply  was  a 
shot. 

The  Indians,  who  largely  outnumbered  the  cavalry,  had 
selected  an  admirable  position,  which  not  only  towered 
above  the  one  occupied  by  the  soldiers,  but  was  just  within 
the  border  of  the  reservation. 

There  was  but  one  thing  to  do.  To  fall  back  to  the 
wagons,  and,  for  the  want  of  a  natural  fortification  such  as 
the  Indians  held,  to  construct  an  artificial  defence.  The 
Indians  had  almost  prevented  this  by  getting  between  the 
leading  companies  and  the  wagon-train  ;  but  by  the  skilful 
movements  and  cool  behavior  of  the  troops,  the  desired 
object  was  reached. 

In  superintending  the  details  of  this  operation,  the  brave 
commander  furnished  the  "  shining  mark  "  which  we  are  told 
grim  death  loves.  Seeing  that  the  men  of  Payne  and 
Lawson  were  retiring  in  good  order,  Thornburgh  galloped 
off  in  direction  of  the  train,  attended  only  by  the  ever  faithful 
O'Malley.  He  had  recrossed  the  little  river  and  was  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  wagons  when,  above  the  high  grass, 
behind  a  sage  bush,  rose  the  head  and  shoulders  of  an  Indian. 
A  quick  flash,  a  sharp  report,  a  little  puff  of  smoke,  and  the 
gallant  officer  fell  forward  on  his  horse's  neck,  which  at  the 
same  time  plunged  violently  and  dashed  its  unconscious 


356 


BESIEGED  B  Y  THE  UTES. 


burden  to  the  ground.  The  orderly,  who  had  been  sent 
back,  was  returning,  when  this  tragedy  was  enacted  about 
fifty  yards  in  advance  and  before  his  eyes.  As  he  drew  near 
he  saw  the  Indian  bushwhacker  stealing  toward  the  pros 
trate  form  of  his  victim.  Mechanically,  O'Malley  reined  up, 
levelled  his  pistol  at  the  assassin's  head,  and  caused  him  in 
turn  to  bite  the  dust.  His  first  impulse  was  to  secure  the 
body  of  his  dead  leader  and  bear  it  to  the  train,  but  a  wild 
yell,  near  at  hand,  caused  him  to  turn  and  note  the  approach, 
at  the  top  speed  of  their  ponies,  of  three  hostile  Utes.  The 
odds  were  too  great,  and  emptying  another  chamber  of  his 
revolver  at  the  party,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  one 
of  their  horses  tumble  in  a  heap ;  touching  his  excited  steed 
with  the  spur,  he  soon  reached  the  refuge  of  the  train  with 
the  sad  news.  The  body  remained  within  the  hostile  lines 
for  several  days,  and  when  finally  recovered,  bore  no  signs 
of  the  customary  mutilation,  but  within  the  cold  fingers  of 
one  hand  was  a  photograph  of  tf  Colorow,"  placed  there  by 
the  bloodthirsty  scoundrel,  who  had  thus  abused  the  kind 
ness  of  a  good  friend  of  his  people. 

SHERMAN   ON   THORNBURGH. 

The  General  of  the  Army  subsequently  placed  on  record 
his  opinion  that,  "  Major  Thornburgh  was  an  officer  and  a 
gentleman  of  whom  the  Army  has  reason  to  be  proud  ;  he 
was  young,  ardent,  ambitious,  of  good  judgment,  and  no  man 
could  have  done  better  in  life  nor  met  death  with  more 
heroism." 


BRA  VE  SER  GEA  NT  DO  LA  A'.  3  5  j 

MEDAL  WINNERS  OF  MILK  RIVER. 

Captain  Payne,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  upon 
Thornburgh's  death,  says  :  "  The  last  order  Major  Thorn- 
burgh  gave  me  was  to  charge  a  body  of  fifty  or  sixty  Indians 
who  were  on  a  high  hill,  between  the  skirmish  line  and 
wagon-train  to  which  he  had  just  ordered  a  retreat.  In  the 
charge  my  horse  *  was  killed  and  my  men,  not  seeing  me  fall 
on  account  of  the  dust  and  smoke,  passed  on  to  the  train, 
the  Indians  having  dispersed  on  our  approach.  My  First 
Sergeant,  DOLAN,  soon  missed  me,  and  returning  alone,  dis 
mounted  and  offered  me  his  horse,  in  the  coolest  and  most 
matter-of-fact  way.  Of  course  I  could  not  accept  his  offer, 
and  he  would  not  leave  me,  although  I  ordered  him  to  do 
so.  At  this  time  several  of  the  Indians  had  returned  to 
their  place  on  the  hill,  but  sixty  yards  away,  and  it  has  always 
been  a  mystery  to  me  why  they  did  not  fire  upon  us  whilst 
we  were  talking  together.  Shortly  after,  help  came,  and  we 
got  safely  away,  but  the  gallant  old  fellow  was  killed  a 
couple  of  hours  later  while  exposing  himself  to  the  enemy's 
fire,  f 

"  He  was  the  bravest  and  most  loyal  soldier  to  his  officers 
I  have  ever  known.  He  must  have  been  fifty-five  years  of 
age. 

"  In  his  long  service  of  thirty-three  years  he  had  met  with 
many  adventures ;  had  been  wounded  twice,  had  innumer 


*  The  horse  is  the  same  photographed  with  Captain  Payne,  p.  358. 

t  Supposing  that  he  was  only  wounded,  I  went  out  to  bring  him  under  cover  and  found 
Sergeant  Grimes  already  by  his  side,  and  together  we  dragged  the  old  man's  body  into 
the  trenches. 


358 


SERGEANT  GRIMES'  CONDUCT. 


359 


able  horses  killed   under  him,  and   had   been  a  prisoner  at 
Andersonville. 

"  The  year  before  he  was  killed,  a  bill  was  favorably  re 
ported  in  Congress,  placing  Dolan  on  the  retired  list  as  a 
Lieutenant,  but  before  it  could  become  a  law  the  Sergeant 
had  ceased  to  exist." 

An  incident  of  the  movement  to  the  rear  by  the  troops 
of  Payne  and  Lawson  was  the  gallant  and  efficient  service 
rendered  by  Sergeant  ED 
WARD  GRIMES  (F,  5th  Cav 
alry),  who  was  awarded  a 
Medal  of  Honor  for  his 
share  of  the  day's  work. 
As  the  men  were  falling 
back  under  orders,  skir 
mishing  with  the  Indians, 
who  were  pressing  them 
hard,  a  break  or  gap  oc 
curred  in  the  line.  It  was 
a  critical  moment  ;  the  In 
dians  were  making  for  a 
crest  which  would  have 
given  them  a  decided  ad 
vantage.  Captain  Payne  saw  it,  and  ordered  Sergeant 
Grimes  to  take  a  few  men  and  make  a  rush  for  this 
point.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  and  with  only 
two  companions,  he  reached  the  spot  in  time  and  held  it 
until  ordered  to  leave.  In  falling  back,  Lieutenant  Cherry 
had  charge  of  the  skirmishers  and  came  very  near  being 
cut  off,  as  the  Indians  pressed  him  closely  and  his  am- 


SERGEANT    EDWARD   GRIMES, 

FIFTH    U.    S.    CAVALRY. 


360 


BESIEGED  B  Y  7^HE  UTES. 


munition  was  very  low.  Between  his  position  and  the 
train  was  a  space  of  about  a  thousand  yards.  To  get  more 
cartridges,  some  one  must  run  the  gantlet.  Sergeant 
Grimes  "  volunteered  "  to  go.  Cherry  said,  "  Go,  Grimes, 
and  I  will  never  forget  you."  Mounting  his  horse,  already 
bleeding  from  two  wounds  in  the  neck,  the  brave  'fellow 
set  off  on  his  perilous  race.  In  his  own  words,  "  The  party 
of  Indians  surrounding  us  closed  in  on  me.  Pistol  in  hand 
I  gave  them  all  that  was  in  it.  The  cheering  of  our  men 
gave  me  courage.  I  put  the  spurs  to  my  horse  and  outran 
my  pursuers  without  a  scratch,  but  my  horse  was  again  shot 
in  the  fetlock,  causing  him  to  skip  from  one  leg  to  another." 
The  train  had  been  parked  on  the  right  bank  of  and 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  river ;  the  wagons  form 
ing  the  north  side  of  a  corral,  elliptical  in  shape,  its  axis  run 
ning  east  and  west  and  the  south  side  exposed  to  a  fierce 
fire  from  the  Indians,  who,  massing  in  the  ravines  along  the 
river  and  upon  commanding  heights,  were  making  a  des 
perate  effort  to  capture  the  train  before  it  could  be  pre 
pared  for  defence.  About  twenty  of  the  animals,  already 
wounded,  were  led  out  into  the  open  space  of  the  corral, 
killed,  and  their  bodies,  with  the  wagons,  were  formed  into 
a  continuous  line  of  cover.  The  wagons  were  also  unloaded 
of  the  bedding,  grain  sacks  and  boxes  of  hard-bread  which 
were  used  to  strengthen  the  breastworks.  While  this  was 
being  done,  the  Indians  kept  up  a  continuous  fire,  and  many 
horses  and  men  fell  to  rise  no  more.  Lieutenant  Paddock, 
5th  Cavalry,  was  wounded  in  the  hip,  while  superintending 
his  part  of  the  work,  and  Captain  Payne  was  shot  in  the 
arm. 


362  BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 

The  Indians,  foiled  in  their  attempt  to  cut  off  the 
wagons,  took  advantage  of  the  high  wind  then  blowing 
toward  the  soldiers,  to  set  fire  to  the  tall  grass  and  sage 
brush  in  front  of  their  intrenchments.  Captain  Payne  ob 
served  this,  and  also  that  the  train  of  one  Gordon,  an  Indian 
supply  contractor,  was  parked  near  by,  between  the  troops 
and  the  river.  Fearing  that,  under  cover  of  the  smoke,  the 
wily  foe  might  creep  up  and  occupy  this  new  position,  Cap 
tain  Payne  started  a  fire  in  the  opposite  direction,  which  not 
only  cleared  the  ground  immediately  in  his  front,  but 
reached  and  burned  up  the  contractor's  train,  to  the  great 
rejief  of  the  besieged. 

According  to  his  commanding  officer,  Sergeant  POPPE 
here  displayed  qualities  which  won  him  the  medal. 

"  I  put  him  in  charge  of  a  party  of  ten  men  to  dislodge 
some  Indians  from  the  ravines  and  river  banks,  where  their 
position  enabled  them  to  cut  off  a  part  of  my  command 
from  the  wagon-train.  This  duty  he  gallantly  performed. 
Later,  when  the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  grass  and  sage-brushr 
in  an  attempt  to  burn  our  train  and  drive  us  from  cover, 
I  ordered  Poppe  to  get  three  or  four  men  and  set  fire  to 
the  grass  immediately  about  us,  so  that  when  the  fire  set  by 
the  Indians'  should  come,  there  would  be  nothing  around 
us  to  burn.  Poppe  said  he  would  do  it  by  himself,  and 
springing  over  the  breastwork  before  I  could  prevent  him, 
he  lighted  a  match,  touched  it  to  a  wisp  of  grass,  and  going 
from  place  to  place  fired  the  sage-brush,  returning  only 
after  the  duty  had  been  thoroughly  performed.  All  this 
time,  which  consumed  several  minutes,  he  was  as  cool  and 


SERGEANT  LA  WTON. 


363 


collected  as  on  parade,  although  a  hundred  rifles  made  him 
their  target  ;  miraculously  he  escaped  without  a  scratch." 

Sergeant  JOHN  S.  LAWTON,  of  Troop  "  D,"  5th  Cavalry, 
was  also  conspicuous  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  dur 
ing  the  siege.  On  the  first  day  he  greatly  distinguished 
himself  by  heading  a  small  detachment  (five  men)  to  the 
rescue  of  Captain  Lawson,  3d  Cavalry,  and  Lieutenant 
Cherry,  5th  Cavalry,  who  were  nearly  cut  off  by  the  Indians. 
In  doing  this,  the  party  was 
exposed  to  a  heavy  fire,  losing 
three  killed  before  reaching  the 
shelter  of  the  trenches. 

Sergeant  Lawton  (now  Cor 
poral  of  Battery  B,  5th  United 
States  Artillery),  received  a 
Medal  of  Honor. 

An  attack  made  by  the  In 
dians  was  gallantly  repulsed. 
During  the  entire  day  the  en 
emy  kept  up  a  constant  fire, 
using  ammunition  like  water,  killing  or  mortally  wounding 
several  men  and  three-fourths  of  the  horses.  At  dark 
another  charge  was  made  by  the  Indians,  which  was  again 
repulsed  with  loss  on  both  sides.  In  the  night  many  of  the 
dead  animals  were  hauled  off,  a  supply  of  \vater  for  the 
next  day  was  obtained,  cartridges  and  rations  were  issued, 
rifle-pits  were  dug  and  the  defence  was  strengthened. 

We  could  only  get  our  water  at  night.  Great  judgment, 
coolness  and  address,  as  well  as  courage,  were  required  in 
the  discharge  of  this  delicate  and  dangerous  duty.  There 


SERGEANT    JOHN    S.    LAWTON, 

FIFTH    U.    S.    CAVALRY. 


364 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


was  a  scarcity  of  officers,  and  each  had  his  hands  full.  My 
confidence  in  Corporal  HAMPTON  M.  ROACH  was  so  great 
that,  although  he  was  one  of  the  junior  corporals  in  rank,  as 
well  as  young  in  years,  I  gave  him  full  charge  of  the  water 
supply;  a  duty  that  with  a  full  number  of  officers  present, 
would  have  been  assigned  to  one  of  them.  One  night  the 
Indians  crept  up  close  to  our  intrenchments  and  attacked  the 
water  party,  but  Roach  was  ready  for  them,  and  his  men 
covered  them  with  carbines  cocked  and  fingers  on  triggers  ; 
the  Utes  made  a  desperate  effort  and  shot  one  of  our  men, 
but  Roach  kept  his  head,  repulsed  the  attack,  and,  without 
returning  to  the  rifle-pits,  procured  his  supply  of  water  for 
the  next  twenty-four  hours.  For  this  gallant  act,  his  gen 
eral  good  conduct  and  superior  intelligence,  I  recommended 
him  for  appointment  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Army, 
and  I  am  glad  to  say  that  he  passed  his  examination  suc 
cessfully,  and  is  now  serving  with  his  regiment,  the  1st  In 
fantry. 

The  next  day  brought  a  continuation  of  the  bombard 
ment,  and  all  the  animals  were  killed,  excepting  fourteen 
mules. 

The  day  after  (Oct.  i)  the  programme  was  unchanged, 
save  that  the  water  party  was  attacked  at  short  range,  but 
drove  the  enemy  away,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  on  each 
side. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  (Oct.  2)  an  Indian  was 
heard  to  say,  "  Soldiers  coming !  "  Payne's  men  took  this 
for  a  stratagem  to  throw  them  off  their  guard,  but  it  had  an 
other  meaning. 

Captain  Payne  writes:  "  After  the  first  day's  fight  I  had 


i'i&  •.*•=•., 


365 


366 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


to  send  couriers  with  the  news  to  the  railroad,  140  miles 
away.  Surrounded  by  Indians  as  we  were,  the  duty  was 
hazardous  in  the  extreme.  Corporals  GEORGE  MOQUIN  and 
EDWARD  MURPHY  (D)  were  the  first  who  offered  to  go 
when  volunteers  were  called  for,  as  they  were,  only  in  this 
case  during  the  entire  operations.  I  deemed  it  best  to 
trust  men  for  this  dangerous  service  who  were  willing  to  un 
dertake  it.  I  explained  the  danger  to  these  men,  expressed 
my  belief  that  the  chances  were  against  all  of  the  party  get 
ting  through,  and  upon  their  still  expressing  a  desire  to  go, 
gave  each  of  the  party,  Corporals  Moquin  and  Murphy, 
Scout  RANKIN  and  Mr.  JOHN  GORDON  (an  Indian  freight 
contractor,  a  very  gallant  man),  a  copy  of  my  despatches 
and  sent  them  off.  The  danger  was  great  ;  they  fully  un 
derstood  it  and  went  without  hesitation." 

THE  COLORED  TROOPS. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  September,  Captain  Dodge,  Qth 
Cavalry,  with  his  company  was  scouting  near  Bear  River, 
when  his  advance-guard  came  across  a  piece  of  white  paper, 
with  these  words  scribbled  upon  it,  hanging  to  a  twig 
of  sage-brush :  "  Hurry  up ;  the  troops  have  been  de 
feated  at  the  Agency. — E.  E.  C."  In  the  language  of  this 
officer's  report,  "  Having  seen  that  my  men  were  supplied 
with  125  rounds  of  ammunition  and  three  days'  rations  per 
man,  I  started  for  Payne's  command.  I  took  with  me  one 
pack  mule,  on  which  was  carried  a  couple  of  blankets  and  a 
few  picks  and  spades.  The  force  left  to  me  consisted  of 
two  officers,  thirty-five  soldiers  and  four  citizens.  *  *  * 
The  night  was  bright  and  cold  and  the  march  unimpeded. 


CAPTAIN  DODGE  'S  TROOP. 


367 


At  four  o'clock  we  reached  the  river  road,  about  five  miles 
from  the  intrenchments,  and  shortly  afterward  came  upon 
the  dead  bodies  of  three  men,  lying  in  a  gulch,  near  which 
a  train  loaded  with  annuity  goods  had  been  burned  by  the 
Indians.  Half  an  hour  later  we  arrived  at  Payne's  com 
mand.  Singularly  enough,  the  Indians  did  not  molest  us 
in  the  least  up  to  this  time,  and  I  can  only  account  for  it 
by  supposing  that  they  imagined  a  much  stronger  force 
•coming  in,  and  were  unwilling  to  expose  themselves.  How 
ever,  we  were  scarcely  inside  the  trenches  when  they  com 
menced  a  fusillade,  which  was  kept  up  at  intervals  for  the 
next  three  days.  Of  forty-two  animals  taken  into  the 
trenches  with  my  company,  but  four  are  left,  and  these  are 
wounded." 

The  remark,  "  Soldiers  coming,"  was  the  first,  intimation 
that  re-enforcements  were  at  hand,  and  for  the  remainder  of 
the  siege  the  "  brunettes  "  (for  Dodge's  men  were  colored 
soldiers)  vied  with  their  white  comrades  in  deeds  of  daring 
and  self-sacrifice.  Captain  Lavvson  is  reported  to  have 
said  afterwards,  that  "  the  men  of  the  Qth  Cavalry  are  the 
whitest  black  men  I  ever  saw." 

MASSACRE  AND  CAPTIVITY. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  fight  the  Indians  lost  twenty  of 
their  young  men.  Up  to  this  time  the  agent,  Mr.  Meeker, 
and  his  family  had  not  been  molested.  But  urged  by  per 
sonal  hatred,  grief  at  the  loss  of  so  many  promising  braves, 
and  disappointment  at  the  failure  of  the  ambush  they  had 
planned,  a  party  of  Utes,  headed  by  Johnson,  rushed  back, 
murdered  the  agent  and  his  men  in  cold  blood  and  carried 


JOSEPHINE   MEEKER   AND    FELLOW   CAPTIVES. 


368 


THE  MEEKER  CAPTIVES. 


369 


into  a  captivity — often  worse  than  death — three  women 
and  two  children,  the  unhappy  remnant  of  two  house 
holds.  These  were  the  wife  and  daughter  of  the  Agent,  and 
the  wife  and  two  children  of  one  of  the  employes. 

They  were  hurried  away  to  a  camp  which  had  been  es 
tablished  by  the  Indians  for  the  protection  of  their  own 
families  in  case  of  war.  The  captives  were  abused  and  in 
sulted,  but  preserved  throughout  a  fortitude  and  courage 
which  drew  from  their  brutal  captors  expressions  of  admi 
ration.  Their  lives  were  spared  through  the  efforts  of  Susan, 
the  sister  of  Ouray  and  wife  of  Johnson, — the  arch-fiend  and 
murderer  of  the  Agent.  Susan  was  a  wonderful  instance 
of  the  fact  that,  although  Indians  never  forgive  an  in 
jury  they  often  remember  a  favor.  Some  years  before,  she 
had  been  captured  by  a  war-party  of  Arapahoes,  near  the 
Cache  le  Poudre  River.  As  they  were  about  to  burn  the 
helpless  woman  at  the  stake,  the  commanding  officer  of  Fort 
Collins  interfered,  and  partially  by  threats  and  partially  by 
promises,  succeeded  in  rescuing  the  prisoner  from  the  tort 
ure.  Nobly  did  Susan  repay  the  debt. 

During  all  the  horror  of  this  time,  Josephine  Meeker  (who 
had  been  the  school-teacher  at  the  Agency)  showed  great  en 
durance  and  heroism.  On  one  occasion  the  chief,  Douglas, 
placed  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle  against  her  forehead  and  said, 
"  Me  shoot,"  and  asked  her  if  she  was  not  afraid.  The 
girl  drew  herself  up  and  looking  her  persecutor  calmly 
in  the  eye,  replied,  "  I  am  not  afraid  of  Indians  nor  of 
death  !  "  Whereupon  Douglas  dropped  his  piece  and  slunk 
away,  crestfallen,  amid  the  jeers  of  his  companions. 
24 


370 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 


The  details  of  the  sufferings  of  these  poor  women  are   too 
sad  to  dwell  upon  here. 

By  the  prompt  action  of  the  Indian  Department,   a  brave 


SUSAN. 


man,  General  Adams,  formerly  the  agent  for  the  Utes,  was 
sent  at  once  to  treat  for  the  release  of  the  captives.  After 
much  trouble,  and  at  some  personal  risk,  he  succeeded  in 
his  object,  and  the  intended  victims  were  restored  to  their 
own  people. 


M ERR  ITT 'S  MA  RCH.  ^  ~  { 


RAISING  THE  SIEGE. 

If  the  experience  of  those  at  the  front  had  been  exciting, 
the  sensations  of  their  friends  in  the  rear  were  equally  stir 
ring. 

As  soon  as  the  news  was  received,  General  Merritt — the 
colonel  of  Payne's  regiment  and  one  of  the  famous  cavalry 
leaders  of  our  great  Civil  War — was  sent,  with  a  large  force, 
to  the  relief  of  the  besieged. 

At  the  head  of  two  squadrons  of  cavalry  and  two  com 
panies  of  infantry,  he  made  what  was  called  "  a  lightning 
march  "  across  country,  through  clouds  of  blinding  alkali 
dust,  which  settled  in  the  eyes,  nostrils,  ears  and  throats  of 
men  and  animals,  causing  intense  pain,  bleeding  and  ex 
haustion.  One  hundred  and  thirty-one  of  the  men  were  in 
fantry  in  wagons. 

But  such  was  the  stern  determination  to  reach  the  com 
mand  at  Milk  River  in  time,  that  at  5.30  P.M.,  October  5, 
after  an  unparalleled  march  of  170  miles  in  forty-eight 
hours,  Merritt's  men  arrived.  Captain  Payne  thus  describes 
the  moment :  "Just  as  the  first  gray  of  the  dawn  appeared, 
our  listening  ears  caught  the  sound  of  '  officers'  call,'  *  break 
ing -the  silence  of  the  morning,  and  filling  the  valley  with 
the  sweetest  music  we  had  ever  heard.  Joyously  the  reply 
rang  out  from  our  corral,  and  the  men,  rushing  from  the 
rifle-pits,  made  the  welkin  ring  with  their  glad  cheers.  It 
was  the  relief  of  Lucknow  in  miniature,  Isandula  over  • 
.again — this  time  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado. 

*  The  trumpet  signal  by  which  military  officers  may  be  suddenly  assembled  in  camp  or 
garrison. 


BESIEGED  BY  THE  UTES. 

"  The  losses  of  the  troops  were  one  commissioned  officerr 
nine  soldiers  and  five  civilians  killed,  three  officers  and 
thirty-two  men  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  ten  animals 
killed.  The  Indians  acknowledged  a  loss  of  thirty-seven 
killed  out  of  350  engaged.  Among  the  wounded  were 
Lieutenant  Paddock  and  Dr.  Grimes. 

"  General  Merritt  pushed  on  to  the  Agency,  from  which 
the  Indians  fled  at  his  approach.  Everything  was  in  ruins, 
and  the  mutilated  bodies  of  the  Agent  and  his  assistants 
were  found  unburied  amid  the  desolation." 

As  he  was  preparing  to  move  into  the  heart  of  the  Ute 
country,  with  a  view  of  punishing  the  perpetrators  of  this 
crime,  he  was  ordered  to  suspend  operations,  while  the 
Indian  Department  tried  diplomacy  instead  of  force  as  a 
remedy.  Principally  through  the  efforts  of  Ouray,  peace 
was  preserved,  and  the  Indians  were  permitted  to  return  to 
the  reservation  without  the  thrashing  they  so  richly  de 
served,  and  which  General  Merritt  was  eager  to  give  them. 

To  this  day,  no  atonement  has  been  made  by  them  for 
the  innocent  blood  poured  out  on  the  banks  of  the  White 
River. 


COLONEL    BENJAMIN    LLOYD    BEALL, 

SECOND    U.    S.    DRAGOONS. 


373 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 

I.  THE  SECOND  DRAGOONS* 

Pressing  here  my  mossy  pillow. 

Forms  that  moulder  'neath  the  willow  ^ 

Forms  that  sleep  beneath  the  billow, 

Flit  and  frolic  round  me  now  ; 

Banishing  all  thought  of  mourning, 

All  my  dreams  with  joy  adorning, 

May  they  tarry  till  the  morning 

Ere  they  breathe  their  u  Hough  !  "  t 

"  Hough  !  "  boys,  "  Hough  !  " — "  Hough  !  "  boys,  "  Hough  ! " 

Let  the  soldiers'  toast  be  ever 

"  Hough  !  " 


LET  disinterested   outsiders   attest  the  excellence  of  a 
famous  body  of  horsemen,  where  the  modesty  of  an 
officer:}:  trained  in  its  school  (who  contributes  the  following 
reminiscences)  may  fail  to  do  justice. 

The  tone  of  the  regiment,  doubtless,  had  its  source  in  its 
original  personnel,  created  for  service  in  the  Far  West,  and 
the  term  of  enlistment  being  but  for  three  years,  many 
young  native  Americans  joined  its  standard  for  the  sake  of 
the  adventurous  career  thus  offered,  and  the  hope  of  better 
ing  their  fortunes  in  that  terra  incognita.  Thus  a  brother 
hood  was  formed,  and  an  esprit  de  corps  established,  which 
endured  for  many  years,  and  which,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  still 
continues. 


*  Now  the  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry.  t  Pronounced  "  How."1 

$  The  late  Gen.  H.  H.  Sibley,  formerly  Captain  2d  Dragoons. 

374 


DAVID  E.   TWIGGS. 


THE  FIRST  COLONEL. 


375 


The  first  Colonel,  TwiGGS,  when  appointed  in  1836,  was 
in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood.  Original,  practical  and  of 
quick  perception,  he  inspired  the  Regiment  with  an  endur 
ing  faith  and  self-reliance.  Severe  in  his  discipline,  he  was, 
nevertheless,  possessed  of  that  bonhommie  which  won  the 
hearts  of  soldiers  and  officers.  Of  commanding  presence, 
and  of  that  military  dignity  so  essential  in  a  commander, 
his  slightest  wish  was  law,  and  a  rebuke  from  him  never 
failed  of  its  object.  The  men  of  the  Regiment  feared,  re 
spected  and  loved  him.  A  thorough  tactician  himself,  he 
did  not  hesitate  to  place  himself  in  the  ranks  of  the  officers 
for  instruction  in  the  sabre  and  lance  exercises,  and  in  the 
true  method  of  intoning  the  voice  in  giving  commands, 
under  the  newly  arrived  officers,  Captain  L.  J.  Beall  and 
Lieut.  W.  J.  Hardee,*  from  the  Cavalry  School  at  Saumur, 
France.  Educated  in  the  school  of  martinets  which  per 
vaded  the  Army  at  the  period  af  his  first  appointment,  his 
passions  were  unrestrained,  and  were  often  manifested  in 
the  most  violent  paroxysms  of  temper,  resulting  in  inhuman 
punishments.  This,  however,  was  of  but  short  duration 
after  his  appointment  to  the  Second  Dragoons.  Perceiving 
the  error  of  his  ways,  he  adopted  instead  a  fatherly  care, 
and  his  punishments  were  more  practical,  simple,  original 
and  telling. 


*  Afterwards  Lieutenant-Genera]  C.  S.  A. 


^6  REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 

REGIMENTAL  CUSTOMS. 

The  regiment  was  constantly  on  the  watch  for  some  odd 
character.  Thus  it  was  with  our  quondam  friend,  Mr. 

F ,  who  not  only  afforded  us  amusement,  but  feathered 

his  nest  as  well ;  and  thus,  too,  Bill  Williams,  the  most 
famous  fiddler  in  the  upper  country.  Hearing  such  marvel 
lous  accounts  of  him  it  was  decided  in  conclave  to  send  an 
ambulance  and  fetch  him  down,  the  officers  agreeing  to  pay 
him  five  dollars  a  day  and  his  expenses.  He  entertained  us 
for  a  fortnight  with  the  genuine  "  Arkansas  Traveller,"  tell 
ing  the  story  as  he  played,  "  Harper's  Fork  o'  Roaring 
River,"  and  innumerable  "  Scotch  strathspeys."  He  played 
for  us  at  the  balls  we'd  give,  notwithstanding  that  we  had  a 
band  led  by  Sefior  Chioffi,  the  most  famous  trombone  player 
in  the  world,  but  who  was  not  slow  in  acknowledging  Bill's 
wonderful  expertness  with  his  fiddle. 

A  "  hunt  "  was  organized,  and  men  and  officers  were  sent 
to  scour  the  country  as  far  as  Alexandria  to  procure  hounds 
of  the  best  breed  ;  and  you  may  rest  assured,  Madam,  or 
Sir,  that  the  welkin  would  ring  with  a  vengeance  when  the 
twenty  hounds,  with  their  whippers  and  the  hunters,  would 
meet  in  the  midst  of  the  parade  for  a  fox  hunt.  Horns 
blowing,  hounds  yelping,  and  men  screaming  at  the  top  of 
their  voices,  would  make  a  scene  of  excitement  that  would 
rival  the  most  noted  English  hunting  scenes. 

Such,  and  of  such,  was  the  daily  life  at  Fort  Jesup,  be 
sides,  of  course,  the  strictly  routine  duties  of  mounted  and 
dismounted  drills  ;  recitations  in  tactics,  and  in  the  regula 
tions  ;  and  exercises  with  the  sabre  and  lance  ;  the  latter 


SECOND  DRA  GOON  POINTS. 

made  in  the  regiment.  Saturday  was  the  day  for  exercise 
in  these  arms :  mornings  for  sabre,  afternoons  for  the  lance. 
The  entire  command  would  be  assembled  in  columns  of 
companies  at  open  order,  occupying  the  whole  parade,  and 
under  the  direction  of  the  Adjutant,  would  be  exercised  for 
an  hour  by  the  non-commissioned  officers  alternately  in  the 
points,  cuts  and  moulinets.  The  method  of  command 
taught  by  Beall  and  Hardee  would  be  strictly  enforced. 
Thus,  commands  of  caution  would  be  drawled  loudly,  whilst 
commands  of  execution  would  follow  with  a  sharp,  ener 
getic  voice.  By  this  custom  the  men  would  be  exercised, 
and  the  non-commissioned  officers  attain  confidence  and 
uniformity. 

The  drills  were  practical  rather  than  ornamental.  In 
very  hot  weather  the  officers  and  men  would  be  permitted 
to  throw  off  their  shell  jackets  or  coats,  and  at  a  "  rest  "  the 
men  were  permitted  and  encouraged  to  sky-lark — so  that  the 
drills  would  be  pleasant  episodes,  rather  than  toil.  Leap 
ing  a  pile  of  pine  logs,  by  the  whole  command,  would  termi 
nate  each  mounted  drill ;  and  it  was  ^  rare  sight  to  witness 
the  grace  with  which  it  was  done  by  some  of  the  men,  lance 
in  rest.  Awkward  fellows,  who  pretended  that  their  horses 
would  not  take  the  leap,  were  given  stick  horses,  and  made 
to  scramble  over  it. 

The  alacrity  of  the  Second  Dragoons  was  always  remark 
able.  We  were  camped,  I  remember,  near  the  town  of 
Lecompton,  Kansas,  during  the  border  troubles.  The 
horses  were  picketed  to  grass  on  the  prairie,  about  a  quar 
ter  of  a  mile  from  camp.  "  To  Horse  !  "  was  sounded,  and 
it  appeared  to  me,  in  less  than  five  minutes  I  was  at  a 


378 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


round  trot  and  gallop  with  my  squadron,  passing  in 
review  the  laggards  who  had  not  yet  formed,  and  inter 
posed  between  the  two  belligerent  lines  of  Free  Soilers  and 
Border  Ruffians.  Each  man  knew  his  place  and  his  num 
ber  in  the  platoon,  company,  and  squadron,  so  that  there 
was  no  occasion  to  count  off.  Promptness  in  action  was 
always  a  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  regiment.* 

A  MODEL  SERGEANT-MAJOR. 

Our  Sergeant-Major,  TREE  (of  the  period  between  '42 
and  '45),  was  one  of  the  handsomest  soldiers  I  ever  saw ; 
and  quite  as  perfect  in  his  duties.  His  uniform  was  within 
a  shade  of  the  shell  jacket  worn  by  the  officers.  Indeed, 
all  the  first-sergeants  were  thus  clad.  It  was  with  no  little 
pride  that  the  Sergeant-Major  was  observed  crossing  the 
parade.  At  the  time  I  speak  of,  the  3d  Infantry,  Colonel 
Hitchcock, — the  crack  regiment  of  infantry,  by  the  way, — 
formed  a  part  of  the  garrison,  though  quartered  in  sheds 
and  shanties  on  the  outside.  One  day  Colonel  Hitchcock, 
together  with  other  officers  of  the  regiment,  was  seated  on 
the  broad  piazza  of  the  Adjutant's  Office,  his  orderly,  a 
spruce  sergeant,  lounging  below,  when  Tree  came  out  of  the 
office  ;  gracefully  saluting  the  group  of  officers,  he  descended 
the  steps  to  the  ground,  when  the  orderly  sprang  to  "  at 
tention,"  and  saluted  Tree  as  he  passed  !  "  I  am  not  a  bit 


*  There  is  good  reason  to  think  that  the  successors  of  the  Second  Dragoons  are  not 
"  slow  "  when  a  move  is  ordered.  On  one  occasion,  during  the  War  in  1863,  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  break  camp  suddenly,  and  pursue  Mosby,  the  celebrated  Confederate  parti 
san,  who  had  attacked  the  rear  of  General  Meade's  trains  at  Brandy  Station.  When 
"To  Horse  !  "  sounded  the  men  were  lounging,  the  horses  standing  at  the  picket  line,  and 
no  one  thought  of  a  march.  In  eight  minutes  the  Second  had  saddled  up,  mounted, 
and  was  trotting  down  the  road  with  three  days1  rations  in  the  haversacks. — [EDITOR.] 


SERGEANT-MAJOR  TREE. 


379 


surprised,"  remarked  the  Colonel.  "  The  soldierly  bearing, 
and  neatness  of  dress  of  that  Sergeant-Major,  would  elicit 
a  salute  from  any  man  in  my  regiment."  This  was  said 
with  a  half  suppressed  tone  of  bitterness  and  envy.  Phil. 
Barbour,  his  adjutant,  had,  doubtless,  the  same  feeling.  In 
fact,  it  seemed  to  be  the  study  of  the  regiment  to  differ, 
and  to  distinguish  itself  from  others.  Accessories  to  the 
uniform  clothing  furnished  by  the  Government,  such  as 
yellow  worsted  bands  around  the  cap  for  ordinary  non-com 
missioned  officers  and  privates,  and  gold  lace  for  the  non 
commissioned  staff  and  first-sergeants,  were  allowed  and 
encouraged,  to  distinguish  the  regiment  from  the  First 
Dragoons. 

A  FAMOUS  CAVALRYMAN. 

The  Lieutenant-Colonel,  HARNEY,  like  the  Colonel,  had 
been  educated  in  his  youthful  military  career  in  the  severe, 
rugged  school  of  1821.  A  man  of  stalwart  frame,  six  feet 
four  inches  in  height,  straight  as  an  Indian,  and  without 
an  ounce  of  surplus  flesh,  his  rugged  face,  sandy  hair, 
and  light  blue  eyes,  elicited  admiration  and  confidence. 
Thrown  with  roughs  and  Indians  in  his  early  service  on 
the  frontier,  he  emulated  the  most  daring  of  them  in  their 
sports.  In  racing,  leaping,  and  other  manly  sports,  he 
excelled  all  competitors.  Simple  as  a  child  in  his  manners 
and  deportment,  he  was  yet  a  lion  when  aroused  or  enraged. 
When  he  was  stationed  at  old  Fort  Shelby,  near  Nackitosh, 
in  '22,  I  think,  and  when  his  face  was  scarce  fledged,  he 
attended  a  fishing  party  in  which  my  entire  family  partici 
pated.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  when  the  young  men 


3  So 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


were  disposed  to  sky-lark,  the  Sheriff  of  the  parish,  a  Mr. 
Johnson,  a  robust,  powerful  man,  pretended  that  he  was 
about  to  give  my  grandfather  a  ducking  in  the  lake. 
Harney,  being  near  my  mother  at  the  moment,  she  ap 
pealed  to  him  to  save  her  father  from  the  impending  catas 
trophe.  Approaching  the  parties  and  remonstrating  with 
Johnson,  the  latter,  releasing  my  grandfather,  turned  upon 
Harney,  as  a  foe  more  worthy  of  his  steel  ;  but  he  had 


GENERAL   WILLIAM    S.    HARNEY, 

UNITED    STATES    ARMY. 


very  nearly  paid  for  his  temerity  with  his  life.  He  seized 
Harney  round  the  waist  with  a  herculean  grip,  and  al 
though  begged  and  implored  not  to  commit  such  a  folly, 
conveyed  him  waist  deep  into  the  lake,  and,  uniformed  as 
he  was,  plunged  him  under  the  water.  Harney  aroused 
himself  in  the  intense  vigor  of  his  manhood  and  strength, 
shook  himself  free  from  Johnson's  bear-like  clutches  and 


A  MI  LIT  A  R  V  A  7  'II L  E  7'E. 


38 1 


seizing  him,  in  turn,  would  have  drowned  him,  in  his  wrath, 
but  for  the  timely  interference  of  the  spectators.  Drenched 
to  the  skin,  his  uniform  ruined,  he  made  his  apologies  to 
the  ladies,  and  retired  from  the  party. 

On  the  Upper  Missouri  he  delighted  in  excelling  the 
Osage  Indians,  the  bravest  and  most  athletic  of  the  tribes, 
in  foot-races,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Elk  afoot. 

On  the  occasion  of  Harney's  hanging  the  Seminole  chief, 
Chikikie,  and  a  lot  of  his  followers  in  the  Everglades  (the 
same  chief  who  had  surprised  and  massacred  a  detachment 
of  the  Second  Dragoons,  who  were  building  a  trading-post 
for  the  special  benefit  of  his  tribe,  under  the  direction  of 
Harney,  who  escaped  by  the  skin  of  his  teeth),  the  com 
mander  of  the  department  neither  approved  nor  condemned 
the  act,  until  he  was  instructed  from  Washington  to  the 
latter  course.  But  we  of  the  Second  Dragoons,  six  com 
panies  of  which  were  stationed  at  Fort  Butler  with  the 
headquarters,  fired  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns,  the  mo 
ment  we  heard  of  it,  in  Harney's  honor.  This  was  but  a 
single  instance  of  esprit  de  corps,  and  regimental  pride. 

Expert  in  every  department  of  his  profession,  of  untir 
ing  industry  and  energy,  he  was  at  home  in  any  situation. 
He  was  as  skilful  in  a  small  boat  as  the  most  rugged  sai 
lor.  Fretful  and  impatient  under  command,  he  ever  sought 
detached  and  hazardous  service.  He  commanded  the 
detachment  of  the  Second  Dragoons  in  General  Scott's 
remarkable  campaign,  in  Florida.  Three  columns  were 
started  from  the  northern  part  of  the  Peninsula  to  march 
south,  communicating  with  each  other  by  signals  :  bjg  guns 
and  rockets.  Harney  was  attached  to  the  centre  column. 


382 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


At  night,  when  rockets  were  sent  up,  he  leaped  from  his  bed, 
ran  out  of  his  tent,  calling  out  in  his  stentorian  voice,  "  What 
fool  is  firing  those  rockets  ?  Captain  Fulton  !  Captain 
Fulton,  ain't  your  horses  scared  ?  Well,  it's  strange  they  are 
not  frightened  to  death  !  I  never  heard  of  such  tomfoolery 
in  my  life  !  "  Not  a  man  in  camp  but  heard  his  voice. 
"  It's  General  Scott's  orders,  Colonel,"  some  one  called  out. 
**  Blank  General  Scott  and  the  whole  fraternity  of  Wash 
ington  generals.  Does  he  expect  to  find  any  Indians  if  he 
makes  such  a  racket?"  There  were  plenty  of  gossips  to 
repeat  to  General  Scott  the  language  Colonel  Harney 
used  ;  and  hence  a  bitter  feeling  was  engendered,  which 
lasted  for  years,  culminating  in  the  attempt  to  overslaugh 
him,  in  the  organization  of  the  expedition  to  Vera  Cruz, 
and  which  happily  terminated  with  Harney's  capture  of 
the  heights  of  Cerro  Gordo,  the  key  to  the  Mexican  posi 
tion.  On  this  occasion  General  Scott  tendered  his  hand,  his 
congratulations,  and  his  thanks.  An  enduring  friendship 
was  established  thereafter. 

In  1839  Harney  was  stationed  at  Key  Biscayne.  He 
had  with  him  as  A.  A.  A.  G.  Lieutenant  Saunders  of  the 
Second.  The  light-house  had  been  burned  and  the  keeper's 
family  massacred  by  the  Indians  the  year  before.  Harney 
bethought  him,  one  day,  that  the  light-house  ought  to  be 
rebuilt.  "  Mr.  Saunders,"  said  he,  "  that  light-house  ought 
to  be  rebuilt.  Whose  duty  is  it,  amongst  those  fellows  in 
Washington  ? "  "  The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  has 
charge  of  all  the  light-houses,  I  believe,"  replied  Saunders- 
•"  Well,  write  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  and  tell  him,  blank 
him,  that  the  light-house  ought  to  be  rebuilt.  Tell  him 


PEGGING"  TURTLE. 


383 


that  it  ought  to  have  been  rebuilt  long  ago.  Tell  the 
blank  idiot  that  if  he  will  give  me  the  authority  1  will  re 
build  it  myself."  "  But  there  is  no  stone  here,"  suggested 
Saunders.  "  Tell  the  fool  to  send  to  Boston  for  the  stone. 
Have  you  finished  ?  Read  it ' '  Saunders  read  precisely  as 
he  had  dictated,  not  omitting  a  single  syllable  of  his  angry 
epithets.  "  Mr.  Saunders,"  quoth  the  Colonel,  with  sup 
pressed  anger,  and  half  inclined  to  laugh,  too,  at  the  ab 
surdity  of  the  whole  proceeding,  "  a  steam-boat  will  Jeave 
to-morrow  morning  for  San  Augustine ;  get  ready  to  go  in 
her,  and  join  your  company." 

His  chief  amusement  was  to  stand  in  the  bow  of  a 
boat,  with  harpoon  or  grains,  and  strike  the  monster  fish 
which  abound  in  the  waters  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Florida 
or  to  "  peg"  the  enormous  green  turtle,  as  they  slept  on 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The  "  peg  "  is  an  instrument  of 
steel,  about  two  inches  long,  one  end  shaped  like  a  pyra 
mid,  with  a  shoulder  about  an  inch  from  the  point,  the 
residue  being  a  socket,  into  which  a  long,  slender  handle 
fits  loosely.  To  this  little  instrument  a  long  line  is  at 
tached,  which  is  held  in  the  hand.  The  shaft  is  constantly 
held  poised.  Cautiously  approaching  a  sleeping  turtle,  the 
shaft  is  thrown  so  as  to  strike  him  on  the  back ;  the  "  peg  " 
enters  the  shell  merely,  up  to  the  shoulder,  which  closing 
over  it,  the  shaft  becomes  detached,  and  he  is  secured  to  the 
line,  by  means  of  which  he  is  towed  ashore  without  injury. 
It  was  on  such  an  excursion  that  he  captured  a  sea-calf, 
that  rara  avis  of  the  ocean.  The  skeleton  was  sent  to 
Washington,  and  it  is  doubtless  on  exhibition  at  this  day 
it  the  Smithsonian. 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


CHARLIE    MAY. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  most  picturesque  of  the  proverbially 
gallant  sabreurs  of  the  "  Old  Second  "  was  Colonel  CHARLES 
A.  MAY.  He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  our  war  with 
Mexico,  where,  at  the  head  of  his  squadron,  and  in  company 
with  Captain  (now  General)  Pike  Graham,  Lieutenants 


Sackett,*  Pleasanton,f  Inge  and  Winship  at  the  battle  of 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  he  made  a  brilliant  charge  upon  the 
enemy's  artillery,  capturing  a  battery  and  a  general  officer, 
La  Vega,  with  a  loss  of  one  officer  (Inge)  and  sixteen 
men  and  twenty-eight  horses,  killed  or  wounded.  Like  the 


*  Late  Inspector-General  of  the  Army. 

t  Afterward  Major-General  commanding  Cavalry  Corps,  A.  P. 


CHARLIE  MA  Y. 


385 


"  Charge  of  the  Six  Hundred"  at  Balaclava,  it  became  fa 
mous  ;  unlike  that  charge,  it  was  not  a  blunder.  The  equally 
gallant  deeds  of  May's  comrades  were  overshadowed  by 
the  personal  characteristics  of  their  leader.  The  Press 
teemed  with  wonderful  tales  of  his  prowess  and  horseman 
ship,  like  these  :  "  This  gallant  officer  has  immortalized  him 
self.  A  friend  who  has  watched  his  equestrian  movements 
at  the  camp  describes  him  as  a  most  singular  being ;  with 
a  beard  extending  to  his  breast  and  long,  flowing  hair, 
which,  as  he  cuts  through  the  wind  on  his  charger,  streams 
out  in  all  directions.  He  is  one  of  the  finest  horsemen  in 
the  army.  Nothing  is  too  difficult  for  him  to  attempt." 
In  Baltimore,  one  day,  in  1845,  ne  was  fined  for  a  breach  of  a 
city  ordinance,  in  leaping  his  horse  over  a  cord  of  wood 
in  front  of  the  City  Hall.  This  horse  was  not  less  cele 
brated  than  his  master.  He  was  a  large  coal-black  gelding, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  Mexican  War  was  about  ten  years 
old  ;  was  sired  in  "  Old  Kentuck  "  by  the  celebrated  "  Whip'' 
May's  eagle  eye  selected  him  from  the  mass — "  ignobile 
vulgus"  Trained  and  tutored  in  the  menage,  Toms  noble 
qualities  spoke  a  blood  and  spirit  far  excelling  his  col 
leagues.  The  delight  which  the  ambitious  animal  displayed 
in  every  feat  of  daring  or  activity,  seemed  only  to  equal 
his  astonishing  powers. 

"  OLD   TOM'S  "   EXPLOITS. 

In  Florida,  in  1837,  Old  Toms  amazing  leaps  arid  un 
flinching  spirit  became  notorious.  One  of  his  many 
achievements — the  capture  of  "  KING  PHILIP  " — particu 
larly  deserves  historical  notice. 

25 


386 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


The  action  of  Dunlawton  was  still  raging,  and  Old  Tom  s 
ardor  for  the  fight  had  carried  the  gallant  May  ahead  of 
his  troop  into  the  midst  of  the  Seminoles,  when  their  daring 
leader,  "  King  Philip,"  sprung  forth,  with  upraised  rifle,  to 
oppose  horse  and  rider.  May's  sabre  quickly  swept  the  air, 
but  the  agile  Indian  avoided  the  blow  as  the  fiery  charger 
passed  on.  Instantly,  however,  did  "  Old  Tom"  turn  on 
his  haunches  (as  his  master  has  said,  with  all  the  spirit 
and  purpose  of  his  rider),  and  rearing  high,  plunged  both 
his  front  hoofs  into  the  breast  of  the  Indian  warrior,  knock 
ing  him  full  ten  feet  (as  is  well  avouched),  senseless  and 
thenceforth  a  captive. 

Coa-co-chee,  or  Wild-Cat,  then  became  the  "  head  devil" 
of  the  real  Seminoles,  and  swore  vengeance  on  his  father's 
captor.  One  of  his  attempts  was  as  follows :  May,  in  the 
habit  of  riding  alone  from  his  near  post  to  St.  Augustine, 
was  returning  over  the  sandy  road,  unsuspicious  of  danger, 
one  very  dark  night,  when  he  and  Old  Tom  found  them 
selves  suddenly  among  a  drove  of  horses.  May's  pistol 
was  instantly  cocked,  for  he  knew  that  "  Indians  were 
about  ;  "  and  he  determined  to  go  ahead  and  get  his  men 
out  of  the  fort.  Old  Tom  made  his  way  through,  but  the 
Indians  did  not  fire,  for  fear  of  alarming  the  post.  About 
half  a  mile  from  where  they  passed  through  the  herd  was  a 
wooden  bridge  which  Old  Tom  always  jumped  ;  this,  as 
usual,  he  did,  when  a  minute  after  a  horse's  hoof  was  heard, 
in  the  black  darkness  of  the  night,  to  touch  the  boards. 
May  then  knew  he  was  followed,  and  instantly  reined  up. 
The  treacherous  horseman  came  on  to  meet  the  discharge 
of  the  pistol.  The  Indian  appeared  to  fall  from  his  horse 


OLD  TOM"   THE  WAR  HORSE. 


387 


and  escape  as  May  rode  into  his  post  with  the  horse 
following.  In  the  morning,  the  captured  animal  was  found 
to  have  on  him  the  trappings  known  to  be  Wild-Cat's,  with 
a  ball  through  his  neck,  and  the  worst  kind  of  a  kick 
from  Old  Tom's  heels. 

The  theatre  of  Old  Tom's  renown  was  next  shifted  to 
Mexico,  where  he  quickly  won  the  admiration  of  the 
rough  and  ready  riders  of  our  army,  and  the  profound 
respect  of  the  enemy.  At  first,  the  Texans  were  inclined 
to  brag  a  little  of  their  horses.  On  one  such  occasion,  May, 
knowing  there  was  nothing  "  Old  Tom  "  would  not  try, 
shouted  to  a  mounted  party,  "  NoW,  follow  me,"  pointing 
at  the  same  time  to  a  ravine  which  no  horse  could  possibly 
clear.  Old  Tom  dashed  on,  but  at  the  brink  each  Texan 
halted.  His  leap  was  unhesitatingly  made,  and  all  thought, 
for  the  moment,  that  horse  anc\  rider  had  been  dashed  to 
atoms ;  Old  Tom,  however,  had  fallen  unhurt  in  the  soft 
earth  of  the  chasm. 

At  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  in  the  charge  which  took  General 
La  Vega,  Tom's  courage  shone  gloriously.  The  Mexican 
guns  were  not  only  advantageously  posted,  but  had  a 
breastwork  thrown  up,  with  a  ditch  in  front  of  it ;  in  fact,  an 
actual  battery.  So  soon  as  General  Taylor  perceived  it,  he 
rode  up  to  May  and  told  him  he  must  take  it  at  any  cost ; 
and  off  dashed  the  dragoons,  going  forward  like  a  tornado. 
"  Old  Tom  "  went  steady  at  the  enemy,  all  the  time  making 
tremendous  leaps,  as  he  bounded  over  ditch,  breastwork, 
and  everything  else  that  came  in  his  way.  In  this  charge, 
an  escopette  ball,  or  grape-shot,  struck  him  in  the  neck ; 
yet  so  steadily  and  unswervingly  did  he  "go  the  pace  "  that 


'388 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


it  was  not  known  until  after  the  battle  that  he  was 
wounded.  The  gallant  Inge's  fate  has  been  much  attrib 
uted  to  the  want  of  that  steadiness  and  vigor  in  his  charge1" 
which  distinguished  "  Old  Tom" 

At  Monterey,  a  spent  grape-shot  keeled  Old  Tom  over. 
May  thought  him  dead,  spoke  to  him  in  sorrow,  but  the 
old  fellow  in  a  few  moments  sprung  up,  shook  himself 
heartily,  and  began  to  return  his  master's  caresses  as  if 
"  nothing  to  speak  about  "  had  occurred.  All  the  damage 
was  a  large  welt  on  his  flank,  perhaps  the  first  time  Old 
Tom  had  been  out-flanked. 

•This  one  of  the  heroes  of  all  Taylor's  battles  in  Mexico 
fought  his  last  fight  at  Buena  Vista.  He  had  been  under 
the  saddle  for  four  days  and  nights,  when  on  that  bloody 
field  this  "  creature  of  heroic  blood  "  began  to  show  a  fail 
ing  of  strength,  which  his  devoted  master  and  friend  would 
not  o'ertask.  May  had  Old  Tom  withdrawn,  much  against 
that  hero's  free  consent ;  and  thereafter  the  old  horse,  by 
the  interest  and  affection  of  his  master,  passed  down  the 
vale  of  life  through  paths  of  peace  and  plenty. 

"  OLD    BEN   BEALL." 

Bvt.  Major  BEN.  BEALL,  notwithstanding  his  humor  and 
love  of  fun,  was  a  good  soldier,  and  an  excellent  disciplina 
rian.  When  in  command,  he  was  dignified  and  reserved  ; 
off  duty,  he  was  the  prince  of  good  fellows.  He  could  tell 
more  unique  and  original  stories,  sing  better  songs,  and 
stand  up  to  his  "  toddy  "  more  honestly  than  any  man  in 
the  regiment.  No  one  could  tell  his  stories  with  the 
same  grace,  or  humorous  workings  of  the  countenance,  or 


COLONEL  BEN.  BEALL.  389 

»sing  his  songs  with  the  same  expression,  and  intonations  of 
voice.  The  posts  where  he  was  stationed  were  kept  alive 
by  his  vagaries.  When  we  were  in  depot  at  Governor's 
Island  in  '39,  for  the  purpose  of  discharging  and  re-enlist 
ing  the  three-years  men,  Ben.  Beall  was  in  his  glory.  An 
English  frigate  came  into  the  port,  and,  of  course,  civil 
ities  were  exchanged.  The  British  officers  entertained 
some  of  us  at  the  old  Globe  Hotel,  away  down  Broadway. 
"  Old-Strike-a-Light,"  as  we  delighted  to  call  Beall,  was 
there,  of  course.  He  amazed  John  Bull,  with  his  versa 
tile,  never-ending  humor.  Amongst  others  he  told  the 
story,  as  given  by  a  Frenchman,  of  the  capture  of  the 
"  Guerriere  "  by  the  "  Constitution." 

"  You  see,  I  vas  come  from  Marseilles  with  sheep  load 
wine  and  cognac  ;  I  vas  go  to  ze  Levant  trade.  By'm-by 
Capitaine  Dacre  he  com  vith  zat  '  Guerriere,'  and  he  tak 
my  sheep ;  and  he  tak  all  my  vine,  an  my  cognac  in  he's 
sheep  ;  me  and  my  crew  he  tak  prisonares  an  he  burn  my 
sheep.  Pretty  soon  he  say:  'Ah,  Capitaine  Dufosse,  I  go 
look  now  fo  zat  Yankee  frigate,  ze  "  Constitution."  Pretty 
soon  he  see  zat  sheep.  '  Ah,  Capitaine  Dufosse,'  he  say, 
'  I'm  goin  tak  zat  sheep  in  twenty  minutes.'  Ven  he  come 
up  vith  her,  he  give  von  broadside  br-r-r-r-r-re  !  Zat  Yankee, 
he  no  say  nossing ; — br-r-r-r-r-re,  ze  other  broadside.  Ze 
Yankee,  he  no  say  nossing !  *  Tonnere  ! '  I  say,  '  what  is 
zat  ? '  Br-r-r-r-r-re !  br-r-r-r-r-re !  from  ze  '  Guerriere.' 
Zat  sacre"  Yankee,  he  no  say  nossing  !  Pretty  soon,  when  he 
come  close — br-r-r-r-re  !  br-r-r-r-rc  !  br-r-r-r-r-re — by  gar,  I 
go  beelow.  After  avile  I  com  on  ze  deck.  Capitaine  Da 
cre  vas  giv  his  sword  to  Capitaine  Hull!  I  say,  'Ah,  ha! 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 

Capitaine  Dacre !    You  say  you  goin  tak  zat  Yankee  frigate 
in  twenty  minutes  !     By  gar,  he  tak  you  in  TAN !  ' 

Given  with  the  French  style  and  manner  and  peculiar  lin- 
guistical  accent,  in  which  he  was  inimitable,  the  story  was 
received  in  great  good  humor,  and  rounds  of  applause. 

One  of  his  legion  of  friends  wrote  an  obituary  notice,*  of 
which  the  following  was  a  part : 

11  But  Colonel  Beall  was  not  distinguished  for  his  social 
qualities  alone  ;  he  was  a  soldier  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 
With  a  noble  countenance  and  a  commanding  and  well-knit 
frame,  he  looked  every  inch  the  warrior.  Once  in  the 
saddle,  his  powers  of  endurance  were  wonderful.  In  mid 
winter,  when  the  valleys  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  were  filled  with  snow,  when  even  the  nomadic 
savage  had  to  seek  some  sheltered  nook  to  pitch  his  lodge 
in,  it  was  then  that  the  Colonel  used  to  start  on  those  ex 
peditions  against  hostile  Indians  which  rendered  him  so 
famous.  Day  after  day^  night  after  night,  as  long  as  a 
horse  could  hold  him  up,  he  would  travel.  During  his 
term  of  service  in  New  Mexico,  he  underwent  hardship 
that  broke  down  even  the  stoutest  of  his  troops  ;  but  cold 
never  pinched  him,  heat  never  relaxed  him,  and  hunger 
never  weakened  him.  Incapable  of  fatigue,  quick  in  de 
cision,  brave  in  action,  he  was  perhaps  the  best  specimen 
of  a  partisan  officer  our  Service  has  ever  produced. 

"  A  character  like  that  of  Colonel  Beall  was  apt  to  be 
misunderstood  by  those  who  did  not  know  him  well ;  but 
underneath  his  apparent  occasional  levity  of  manner  there 
beat  a  warm  and  noble  heart,  and  a  conscience  free  from 

*  Colonel  Benjamin  Lloyd  Beall  died  at  Baltimore,  Aug.  10,  1863. 


THE  NOBLEST  ROMAN." 


391 


guile.  A  strong  undercurrent  of  religious  feeling  tinged 
his  whole  life,  and  many  a  time,  even  in  the  field,  after  an 
evening  spent  over  the  camp-fire,  '  in  riot  most  uncouth,' 
has  the  writer  of  this  seen  the  old  Colonel,  before  he  retired 
to  his  bivouac  on  the  ground,  take  out  his  prayer-book  and 
snatch  a  few  precious  moments  from  his  restless  and  busy 
life  for  a  communion  with  the  things  of  another  world. 

"He  is  now  gone,  and  in  after-times,  when  the  oft-told 
joke  goes  round  and  some  old,  familiar  story  that  he  once 
told  calls  out  the  merry  laugh,  a  tear  will  mingle  with  our 
cups  as  we  think  of  that  true  and  honest  gentleman,  that 
noble  soldier,  that  prince  of  boon  companions — Colonel 
Ben.  Beall." 

Who,  when  shattered  and  broken  from  scoutings  and  toils, 

In  the  Florida  war, 
Could  smile  at  grim  Death  as  he  felt  his  cold  toils, 

In  the  Florida  war  ? 

Who,  but  valiant  old  Ben  ? — beau  ideal  of  men — 
Who  wore  gay  soldier's  tog  in  the  days  that  we  ken, 

In  the  Florida  war. — 

God  rest  his  old  head  where  his  blanket  is  spread, 
Far  from  toil  and  cold  lead 

And  the  Florida  war  ! 

II.    "  THE  NOBLEST   ROMAN  OF  THEM  ALL."* 

The  sun,  which  shines  alike  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust, 
was  reflected  from  the  burnished  brasses  of  the  garrison 
of  Fort  Shaw,  Montana,  one  bright  day  in  the  latter  part 
of  June,  1886.  The  troops  were  paraded  to  do  honor  to 
the  memory  of  a  distinguished  non-commissioned  officer, 

*  This  account  is  prepared  from  data  furnished   by  Lieut.   PHILIP  READE,  Third  U.  S. 
Infantry. 


3Q2  REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 

who  for  thirty-five  years  had  helped  to  defend  the  Flag  of  his 
Country  with  all  the  power  of  his  strong  right  arm  and 
with  all  the  force  of  his  brave,  honest  and  intelligent  exam 
ple.  According  to  Army  Regulations,  the  funeral  escort  or 
"  firing  party  "  for  a  sergeant  consists  of  sixteen  privates 
commanded  by  a  sergeant,  and  it  is  further  provided  that  the 
funeral  shall  be  attended  by  the  non-commissioned  officers 
of  the  company  or  regiment,  with  side-arms  only.  But 
the  Colonel  of  the  Third  Infantry,  responding  to  the  esprit 
de  corps  which  has  ever  been  a  marked  feature  of  that 


SERGEANT   JAMES    FEGAN, 

THIRD    U.    S.    INFANTRY. 


regiment,  ordered  out  the  entire  garrison  in  full  dress  to 
follow  the  remains  of  one  who  represented  a  type  of  the 
American  Army,  now,  alas  !  seldom  to  be  met  with. 

The  band,  playing  a  dirge,  preceded  the  cortege;  then 
came  the  firing  party,  selected  with  care  from  the  oldest 
and  best  privates,  with  reversed  arms,  commanded  by  a 
sergeant  of  twenty  years'  service  ;  then  the  body  on  an  ar 
tillery  carriage  covered  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and 


SERGEANT  FEGAN.  ^ 

guarded  by  six  stalwart  non-commissioned  officers  as  pall 
bearers  ;  the  chaplain  and  the  surgeon  ;  the  family — the 
gray-haired  widow  supported  by  an  only  son,  successor  to 
his  father's  post  of  First  Sergeant  ;  the  post  and  regimen 
tal  commander  as  chief  mourner  for  the  regiment  ;  the 
other  commissioned  officers  in  the  order  of  rank  ;  four 
companies  of  infantry,  with  the  colors  draped  in  mourn 
ing  ;  last  of  all,  a  number  of  civilians  living  in  the  vicinity. 
Soon  are  heard  the  three  sharp  volleys  of  musketry  which 
terminate  the  old  soldier's  last  parajde,  and  with  a  heart 
felt  "  peace  to  his  ashes,"  the  martial  procession  returns 
with  quickened  pace  and  livelier  music  to  the  duty  of  the 
hour. 

Let  us  glance  at  the  military  record  of  the  enlisted  man 
who  was  deemed  worthy  of  these  extraordinary  honors. 

SERGEANT  FEGAN,  THIRD  INFANTRY. 

JAMES  FEGAN  was  born  in  Athlone,  Ireland,  in  1827,  and 
acquired  military  habits  in  the  constabulary  there.  Coming 
to  this  country  in  early  life,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  "  I,"  Second  United  States  Infantry,  October  29, 
1851.  From  that  time  to  1886  he  had  been  almost 
continuously  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  as  a  sol 
dier,  and  his  record  reads  more  like  that  of  a  warrior  of  the 
early  centuries,  when  war  was  man's  chief  pastime,  than  that 
of  a  dweller  in  the  New  World  who  was  born  in  the  present 
century.  Fegan  soon  proved  himself  faithful,  and  was 
promoted  to  be  corporal  and  then  sergeant,  and  in  due 
time,  his  term  of  enlistment  having  expired,  he  re-enlisted. 
Again  and  again  was  he  discharged  and  as  often  re-enlisted, 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 

until    1861,  when    he  entered    upon    active  service  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  for  three  years. 

HIS  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

He  served  with  his  company  at  the  Siege  of  Yorktoivn, 
Games'  Mills,  Malvcrn  Hill,  Hanover  Court  House,  Fair 
Oaks,  Harrison  s  Landing,  Bull  Run,  Centreville,  South 
Mountain  and  Antietam.  At  Antietam  he  was  wounded  by 
a  rifle  bullet  in  the  right  leg,  but  was  re-enlisted  March  31, 
1864,  in  Company  "  C,"  Third  Infantry,  and  when  again 
discharged,  his  papers  showed  he  had  participated  in  the 
following  engagements :  Petersburg,  Reams  Station,  James 
Station,  Birney  Station,  Stoneman  s  Creek,  first  and  second 
Deep  Bottom,  South  Side  Railroad,  Danville  Railroad,  Boyd- 
ton  Plank  Road,  Appomattox  Station,  Farmsville  City,  New 
House,  Savage  Station,  Reno  Station,  Manchester,  Richmond^ 
Dunwiddie,  C.  H.,  Burksville  Junction,  Appomattox  Court 
House,  Surrender  of  Lee's  Army.  Sergeant  Fegan  had  re 
ceived  several  wounds,  and  one  would  naturally  suppose  he 
had  had  enough  of  a  soldier's  career  to  satisfy  him  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Such,  however,  was  not  the  case. 
Twice  he  re-enlisted  after  this,  but  after  the  second  enlist 
ment  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  seek  admission  to  the  Sol 
diers'  Home  at  Washington,  whither  he  went  in  1870.  Ex 
istence  at  the  quiet  retreat  was  too  tame  a  thing  for  him, 
and  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  discharge  and  at  once  re 
joined  the  Army.  And  there  he  remained  to  the  day  of 
his  death,  participating  in  all  the  duties,  dangers  and  vi 
cissitudes  of  the  Service,  honored  by  his  associates  and 
trusted  by  his  superior  officers. 


AN  OLD  SOLDIER'S  EXPLOITS. 


A   DISTINGUISHED    RECORD. 

His  record  bears  many  endorsements  of  his  bravery  and 
efficiency  by  commanding  officers,  and  he  has  participated 
in  numerous  thrilling  experiences,  besides  pitched  battles,; 
during  the  war  and  with  the  Indians.  He  stood  guard,  sin 
gle-handed  and  alone,  over  a  deserter  he  had  captured  and 
a  mule  train  freighted  with  gun-powder,  at  Plum  Creek, 
Kansas,  when  a  cowardly  assault  was  made  upon  him  by 
another  soldier  and  a  crowd  of  citizens,  and  he  took  both 
deserter  and  powder  to  camp.  For  this,  Sergeant  Fegan 
received  the  Medal  of  Honor,  and  was  mentioned  in  Orders, 
as  follows  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  FORT  DODGE,  KANSAS. 

"March  13,  1868. 
"  Special  Orders, 
"  No.  39. 

"  It  becomes  the  pleasant  duty  of  the  commanding  officer  to  notice  in  terms 
of  approbation,  the  conduct  of  Sergeant  JAMES  FEGAN  of  Company  *H,'  3d 
U.  S.  Infantry,  while  in  charge  of  a  supply  train  en  route  from  Fort  Harker  to 
Fort  Dodge,  Kansas. 

"  During  the  journey,  while  encamped  at  Plum  Creek,  Sergeant  JOHN  W. 
BLAKE,  Troop  '  B,'  7th  U.  S.  Cavalry,  aided  by  some  citizens,  made  a  violent 
and  cowardly  assault  upon  Sergeant  FEGAN,  while  the  latter  was  guarding  a 
deserter,  whom  he  had  recently  apprehended.  He  was  threatened  with  death 
if  he  did  not  allow  the  prisoner  to  escape;  but  true  to  his  trust  and  to  his  good 
record  as  a  soldier,  he  yielded  nothing  but  what  was  wrested  from  him  by 
force.  And  at  the  same  time  defended  himself  with  great  courage  and  ability. 
He  defended,  single-handed,  the  train  freighted  with  gunpowder,  when  threat 
ened,  and  brought  it  safely  to  this  Post. 

"The  courage  and  firmness  with  which  Sergeant  FEGAN  performed  this  dif 
ficult  duty  is  worthy  of  all  praise,  and  is  in  keeping  with  his  excellent  record 


396 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


as  a  soldier  through  many  years  of  service.  His  conduct  is  worthy  the  em 
ulation  of  all  the  soldiers  of  this  Command  who  deem  their  profession  honor 
able,  and  who  desire  to  fulfil  the  requirements  of  it  with  honor  and  credit  to 
themselves. 

"  By  order  of  Major  H.  DOUGLAS. 
"  THOMAS  S.  WALLACE, 

"  2d  Lieiit.  $d  U.  S.  Infantry -, 
"Post  Adjutant." 

In  a  recent  letter  from  Sergeant  Fegan's  company  com 
mander,  he  says : 

A  COMMANDER'S  TRIBUTE. 

"  He  was  exemplary  in  his  habits,  honest,  truthful, 
slow  to  anger,  conscientious,  respectful  and  soldierly  in 
his  demeanor  to  officers,  a  tower  of  strength  among  the 
men.  In  personal  appearance,  he  resembled  General  Har- 
ney  as  the  latter  looked  thirty  years  ago.  Many  humorous 
stories  are  told  of  Fegan.  He  was  a  character  whose  life 
and  habits  furnished  many  salients  whereon  to  hang  anec 
dotes.  His  own  son,  James  Fegan,  Jr.,  enlisted  in  H  Com 
pany,  3d  Infantry,  eleven  years  ago,  and  was  last  year  pro 
moted  to  be  First  Sergeant  of  the  Company. 

"  The  singular  spectacle  of  father  and  son  both  serving  as 
sergeants  in  the  same  organization  thus  presents  itself.  We 
were  proud  of  old  Fegan,  who,  from  his  earnings,  gave  his 
son  what  he  lacked  himself;  to  wit,  a  good  education. 
As  long  ago  as  1867  the  old  soldier  brought  me  $2800  to 
keep  for  him.  This  was  in  an  adobe  hut  on  the  banks  of 
the  muddy  Arkansas,  at  Fort  Dodge.  Calling  his  wife  to 
him,  he  bade  her  *  dhrop  a  curtsey  to  the  Liftinint !  ' 
This  she  did.  The  old  warrior  was  over  six  feet.  Standing 


A   VERY  "FRESH"  RECRUIT.  397 

erect,  his  long  arms  were  just  able  to  rest  on  the  curly  head 
of  a  miniature  reproduction  of  himself  as  he  sonorously 
said  :  '  Liftinint  !  The  proudest  fithcr  in  his  father's  cap 
it  will  be  whin  he  sees  this  lad  idducated  like  an  officer 
and  a  gintleman.  An'  we've  got  the  monney  to  do  it,  too, 
—haven't  we,  ould  woman  ?  Dhrop  a  curtsey,  woman  ! 
Right-hand  salute,  Jhames,  to  the  Liftinint  !  ' 

"  At  another  time, — hour,  midnight  ;  place,  the  guard 
house, — he  being  the  Sergeant  of  the  Guard,  was  addressed 
by  a  rather  fresh  recruit  as  'Jim.'  Whack!  and  the  neo 
phyte  was  sprawling,  while  seventy-five  inches  of  irate, 
Hibernian,  soldierly  humanity  roared  out:  '  Jim,  is  it? 
Whin  I'm  on  dhuty  it's  "  Sergeant  Faygan "  ye'll  call 
me.  Whin  I'm  off  dhuty,  thin,  an'  not  till  thin,  I'm  Jim  ! 
D'ye  mind  it!  D'ye  MIND  it  !  '  And  he  again  flourished 
a  fist  as  big  as  a  Missouri  ham  in  the  face  of  the  terrified 
recruit. 

"  If  you  have  received  any  impression  from  this  screed 
that  Fegan  was  a  coarse,  or  brutal,  or   over-exacting  man, 
you  are  in  error.     He  appreciated  himself  at  his  exact  value  ; 
no  more,  no  less.     Officers  were,  to  him,  of  the  '  quality,'- 
clay  different  from  his.     He  was  a  devout  Roman  Catholic. 

LOYALTY   AND   FIDELITY. 

"  In  1868,  a  Deputy  U.  S.  Marshal  came  to  Fort  Dodge 
one  evening  to  arrest  me.  The  suit  was  at  the  instance  of 
some  citizens  who  had  been  broken  up  by  me  in  the  busi 
ness  of  trading  whiskey  to  Arrapahoe  and  Cheyenne  Indi 
ans.  Having  had  warning  of  the  advent  of  the  hapless  dep 
uty  U.  S.  M.,  I  casually — very  casually,  you  will  understand, 


398 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


— mentioned  the  fact  to  Sergeant  Fegan.  He  carelessly 
asked  where  would  the  U.  S.  M.  sleep.  Similarly,  without 
assignable  reason,  he  inquired  would  I  be  at  the  Post  Trad 
er's  until,  mayhap,  midnight,  that  night  ?  I  incidentally 
gave  him  information  and  details.  Of  course  there  was 
an  entire  absence  of  purpose  in  three  or  four  circumstances 
that  followed  ;  to  wit  (i),  I  domiciled  and  fed  and  drank  the 
D.  U.  S.  M.  in  my  own  quarters,  suggesting  that  he  defer 
until  the  next  day  any  business  he  might  have  with  me. 
(2)  By  a  singular  coincidence,  the  night  that  I  spent  at  bill 
iards  at  the  sutler's  store,  old  Fegan  and  a  few  steady  men 
of  my  company  had  passes,  with  permission  to  be  absent 
from  the  Reservation.  (3)  When  I  returned  to  my  quarters, 
I  tip-toed  to  the  room  where  I  had  left  my  Deputy  U.  S.  M. 
asleep,  but  was  astounded  to  find  the  bed  empty,  his  bag 
gage  gone,  the  man  nowhere  to  be  found. 

"  Long  afterward  the  Deputy  told  me— he  was  a  pretty 

clever  fellow,  Charley  W by  name — that  late  that  night 

he  was  gently  but  resolutely  awakened  from  his  stupor — 
slumbers,  I  mean — by  a  giant,  who  had  a  whisper  like  the 
North  wind  and  the  sinews  of  a  Goliath,  who  enjoined 
him  to  get  up,  dress,  pack  his  things  and  silently  follow  him 
to  a  wagon.  By  the  way  the  Hercules  spoke,  the  Deputy 
U.  S.  M.  thought  he  meant  it,  and  he  meekly  com 
plied.  Without  injury  of  any  kind,  the  civil  functionary 
was  taken  to  a  point  on  Pawnee  Creek,  and  there  advised  to 
take  the  stage  away  from  Fort  Dodge.  He  did  so.  Old 
Fegan  always  looked  preternaturally  sober  whenever  I  tried 
to  talk  about  it.  Do  you  blame  me  for  feeling  that  in  his 
death  I  lost  a  friend  ?  " 


THE  AMERICAN  PRIVA  TE  SOLDIER. 


THE    "  MEN   BEHIND   THE    MUSKETS." 


399 


"  The  Annals  of  War  abound  with  names  of  titled  military 
men,  generals,  colonels,  and  those  of  lesser  rank  but  equal 
bravery,  to  whom  their  country  and  the  world  have  justly 
awarded  the  deathless  meed  that  heroism  everywhere  and 
always  deserves.  No  one  questions  the  right  of  these 
valiant  warriors  to  wear  their  laurels  and  to  enjoy  their 
well-earned  renown.  Physical  bravery  and  soldierly  leader 
ship  will  be  admired  and  extolled  by  humanity  for  ages  to 
come,  and  it  is  right  that  they  should  be.  The  people  that 
has  no  appreciation  of  dauntless  manhood  and  the  prowess 
of  military  chieftainship  is  likely  to  be  one  of  poor  spirit, 
incapable  of  the  noblest  and  best  inspirations.  But  some 
times,  to  a  close  observer,  it  would  seem  that  the  incense 
cloud  which  popular  feeling  continually  keeps  ascending 
before  the  shrine  of  the  greater  heroes,  obscures  and  belittles 
the  deeds  of  the  humbler  ones.  The  general,  the  colonel 
and  their  subordinates  plan  the  battles,  marshal  the  armies 
and  keep  the  serried  ranks  in  order,  inspiring  those  under 
their  command  by  counsel  and  examples,  but  it  is  the  men 
behind  the  muskets  who  do  the  fighting  and  win  the  victo 
ries.  Never  was  this  exemplified  in  a  more  striking  way 
than  during  our  own  great  struggle  of  twenty  years  ago. 
The  American  Private  Soldier  gained  the  admiration  and 
applause  of  the  world  by  his  sublime  heroism  ;  animated  by 
a  grand  purpose  and  thinking  while  he  fought  of  all  that  de 
pended  upon  his  exertions,  he  was  doubly  a  hero — a  hero 
physically  and  morally — and  he  won  battles  and  achieved 
triumphs,  often  under  the  most  adverse  circumstances,  and 


40O 


REGULARS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL. 


despite  bad  generalship,  for  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
we  had  bad  as  well  as  good  leaders.  So  when  we  crown  the 
titled  soldier  with  laurels  and  wave  incense  before  his  face, 
we  must  not  fail  to  remember  that  behind  and  around  him 
cluster  the  memories  of  thousands  of  private  soldiers  whose 
thinking  and  fighting  were  factors  that  largely  helped  to 
give  him  his  fame." 


FIRST  SERGEANT  JAMES  FEGAN, 

COMPANY  H,  30  U.  S.  INFANTRY  ; 

Died  at  Fort  Shaiv,  Montana, 

June  25,  1886,  aged  59. 

Service.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2d  Infantry,  Oct.  29,  1851  ;  re-enlisted  Aug.  29,  1856  ;  re- 
enlisted  July  i,  1861.  Re-enlisted  in  Co.  C,  3d  Infantry,  March  31,  1864 ;  re-enlisted 
March  31,  1867;  re-enlisted  (Co.  H)  March  31,  1870;  re-enlisted  Aug.  13,  1873;  re- 
enlisted  Aug.  13,  1878;  re-enlisted  Aug.  13,  1883.  Retired  from  Active  Service  as 
Sergeant  at  Fort  Missoula,  M.  T.,  May  8,  1885.  Participated  in  30  battles,  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  numerous  Indian  affairs.  Wounded  sA.  "  Antietam,"  1862.  Mentioned 
in  Orders  and  awarded  the  U.  S.  Medal  of  Honor  and  a  Certificate  of  Merit  for  con 
spicuous  gallantry  at  Plum  Creek,  Kansas,  March,  1868.  Sergeant  Fegan  was  made 
(Dec.  6,  1882)  the  subject  of  a  Special  Message  to  Congress  from  the  President  of  the 
United  States. 


''CHUM." 

A  MERITORIOUS  CAMP  FOLLOWER. 


Born  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  August  6,  1876. 
Died  at  Fort  Brady,  Michigan,  March  5,  1886. 


"  accompanied  the  23d  U.S.  Infantry  all 
through  the  Cheyenne  expedition  of  '78.  He 
marched  with  the  regiment  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  Fort 
Supply,  Indian  Territory,  in  '79;  thence  he  marched  with 
Co.  "  A,"  to  the  Cantonment  on  the  Uncompahgre  River, 
Colorado,  thence  to  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico.  He  also 
accompanied  the  troops  from  Fort  Union  to  Richmond 
Post-Office,  Arizona,  in  an  expedition  against  the  Apaches, 
known  as  the  Gila  Expedition  of  '82.  During  the  expedi 
tion  the  troops  suffered  severely  from  want  of  water.  A 
detachment  of  Co.  "A"  was  sent  to  scout  through  the 
country  to  find  pure  water,  but  after  travelling  all  day  and 
all  night  without  finding  even  any  signs  of  it,  they  went 
into  camp,  and  such  was  their  suffering  that  they  resolved 
to  kill  poor  "  Chum  "  for  his  blood.  One  of  the  detachment 
now  (1886)  stationed  at  Fort  Brady,  Mich.,  begged  for 
"  Chum's  "  life,  and  it  was  spared,  providing  water  would  be 
found  within  the  next  hour;  and  luckily  enough  it  was  the 
dog  who  led  them  to  it.  "  Chum  "  returned  with  the  com- 
26  401 


4O2 


A  MERITORIOUS  CAMP  FOLLOWER. 


mand  to  Fort  Union,  and  went  with  it  to  Fort  Brady,  in 
June,  1884.  The  command  felt  grieved  over  "Chum's" 
death,  and  tried  to  show  their  love  for  him  by  burying 
him  with  appropriate  military  honors,  and  erecting  a  neat 
headboard  over  his  grave,  near  the  Post  Cemetery. 


"  CHUM." 


APPENDIX. 


MILITARY  REWARDS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

(1776-1886.) 

UPERIOR  merit  and  capacity  were  rewarded  in  various 
ways  by  the  Romans.  A  victorious  general  was,  if  the 
people  considered  him  worthy  of  it,  honored  with  a 
triumph.  The  General  entered  Rome  in  a  magnifi 
cent  chariot,  followed  by  his  soldiers  and  by  the 
spoils  and  prisoners  taken  from  the  enemy ;  the 
more  splendid  the  victory  the  more  gorgeous  the 
pageant.  \Vhena  Roman  saved  the  life  of  a  fellow- 
citizen  he  was  crowned  with  a  chaplet  of  oak  ;  this 
distinction  was  by  no  means  trifling.  It  gave  him 
State  privileges,  and  allowed  him  to  confer  them 
upon  his  father  and  grandfather  by  his  father's  side  ;  an  encouragement  to  merit 
which  cost  the  country  nothing,  and  was  productive  of  many  great  effects.  The 
Greeks  had  no  triumphs,  but  citizens  who  saved  or  protected  the  lives  of  others 
were  honored  by  a  crown  and  a  complete  suit  of  armor.  Among  them,  want  of 
military  virtue  was  rather  punished  than  valor  rewarded ;  this  was  particularly 
so  among  the  Spartans  ;  it  was  considered  that  the  most  determined  bravery 
was  such  a  matter  of  course,  that  any,  the  slightest  deviation  from  that  excel 
lence  was  worthy  of  degradation.  Thus  only  one  Spartan  escaped  at  the  battle 
of  Thermopylae  ;  he  was  branded  as  a  coward  and  his  face  shaven  on  one  side 
to  mark  him  ;  next  year  the  battle  of  Plataea  was  fought  and  the  Spartan  was 
in  the  Grecian  ranks.  Stung  by  the  reproaches  he  received,  he  sought  an  hon 
orable  death  to  atone  for  the  past,  but  the  stern  justice  of  his  country  forbade 
him  the  burial — the  only  grim  reward  for  valor — which  his  fellow  countrymen 
received  ;  his  death  was  considered  the  effect  of  despair,  not  of  bravery  and 
devotion.* 


*  "  The  Causes  which  have  led  to  the  Pre-eminence  of  Nations,"  by  Ross  of  Bladens- 
burg',  in  Journal  Royal  U.  S.  Institution  (London). 

403 


404 


APPENDIX. 


THE   HONORARY    BADGE   OF    MILITARY    MERIT. 


General  Washington  understood  the  value  of  personal 
decoration  for  gallantry  or  meritorious  conduct,  and  on 
August  7,  1782,  issued  the  following  order  from  his  head 
quarters  at  Newburg. 

"  Honorary  badges  are  to  be  conferred  on  the  veteran 
'non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army  who 
have  served  more  than  three  years  with  bravery,  fidelity  and 
good  conduct;  for  this  purpose  a  narrow  piece  of  white  cloth 
of  an  angular  form  is  to  be  fixed  to  the  left  arm  on  the  uniform  coats ;  non 
commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  who  have  served  with  equal  reputation  more 
than  six  years,  are  to  be  distinguished  by  two  pieces  of  cloth  set  in  parallel  to. 
each  other  in  a  similar  form.  Should  any  who  are  not  entitled  to  these  honors 
have  the  insolence  to  assume  the  badges  of  them,  they  shall  be  severely  punished. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  expected  that  gallant  men  who  are  thus  designated  will, 
on  all  occasions,  be  treated  with  particular  confidence  and  consideration. 

"The  General,  ever  desirous  to  cherish  a  virtuous  ambition  in  his  soldiers, 
as  well  as  to  foster  and  encourage  every  species  of  military  merit,  directs  that 
whenever  any  singularly  meritorious  action  is  performed,  the  author  of  it  shall 
be  permitted  to  wear  on  his  facings,  over  his  left  breast,  the  figure  of  a  heart  in 
purple  cloth  or  silk,  edged  with  narrow  lace  or  binding.  Not  only  instances  of 
unusual  gallantry,  but  also  of  extraordinary  fidelity  and  essential  service  in  any 
way  shall  meet  with  a  due  reward. 

"  Before  this  favor  can  be  conferred  on  any  man,  the  particular  fact  or  facts 
on  which  it  is  to  be  grounded  must  be  set  forth  to  the  commanderan-chief, 
accompanied  with  certificates  from  the  commanding  officers  of  the  regiment 
and  brigade  to  which  the  candidate  for  reward  belonged,  or  other  incontestable 
proofs,  and,  upon  granting  it,  the  name  and  regiment  of  the  person  with  the 
action  so  certified  are  to  be  enrolled  in  the  Book  of  Merit,  which  will  be  kept  at 
the  orderly  office. 

"  Men  who  have  merited  this  last  distinction  to  be  suffered  to  pass  all 
guards  and  sentinels  which  officers  are  permitted  to  do.  The  road  to  glory  in  a 
patriot  army  and  a  free  country  h  thus  opened  to  all. 

"  This  order  is  also  to  have  retrospect  to  the  earliest  days  of  the  war,  and  to 
be  considered  as  a  permanent  one. 

************* 

"  Sunday,  August  1 1,  1782. 

"  In  order  to  prevent  misapplication  of  the  honorary  badges  of  distinction  to 
be  conferred  on  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers,  in  consequence  of 
long  and  faithful  service,  through  any  mistake  or  misapprehension  of  the  or 
ders  of  the  7th  inst.,  the  General  thinks  proper  to  inform  the  Army  that  they 
are  only  attainable  by  an  uninterrupted  series  of  faithful  and  honorable  services. 


WASHINGTON'S  BADGE  OF  MILITARY  MERIT.         405 

A  soldier  who  has  once  retired  from  the  field  of  glory  forfeits  all  pretensions  to 
precedence  from  former  services ;  and  a  man  who  has  deservedly  met  an 
ignominious  punishment  or  degradation  cannot  be  admitted  a  candidate  for  any 
honorary  distinction,  unless  he  shall  have  wiped  away  the  stain  his  reputation 
has  suffered  by  some  very  brilliant  achievement,  or  by  serving  with  reputation, 
after  his  disgrace,  the  number  of  years  which  entitle  other  men  to  that  indul 
gence.  The  badges  which  non-commissioned  officers  ancl  soldiers  are  per 
mitted  to  wear  on  the  left  arm,  as  a  mark  of  long  and  faithful  service,  are  to  be 
of  the  same  color  with  the  facing  of  the  corps  they  belong  to,  and  not  white  in 
every  instance,  as  directed  in  the  orders  of  the  yth  inst." 

On  the  Qth  of  September,  a  Board  was  appointed  to  examine  and  report  of 
the  claims  of  the  candidates  for  the  Badge  of  Merit. 

The  Board,  of  which  Brigadier-General  Greaton  was  president,  made  the  fol 
lowing  report  on  the  24th  of  April,  1783. 


"  ist. — That  Sergeant  Elijah  Churchill,  of  the  2d  Regiment  of  Light  Dragoons, 
on  the  several  enterprises  against  Fort  St.  George  and  Fort  Stongo,  on  Long 
Island,  in  their  opinion  acted  a  very  conspicuous  and  singularly  meritorious 
part;  that  at  the  head  of  each  body  of  attack  he  not  only  acquitted  himself 
with  great  gallantry,  firmness  and  address,  but  that  the  surprise  in  one  instance 
and  the  success  of  the  attack  in  the  other,  proceeded,  in  a  considerable  degree, 
from  his  conduct  and  management. 

"  2d. — That  Sergeant  Brown,  of  the  late  5th  Conn.  Regiment,  in  the  assault  of 
the  enemy,  left  redoubt  in  Yorktown  in  Virginia,  on  the  evening  of  the  I4th  of 
October,  1781,  conducted  a  forlorn  hope  with  great  bravery,  propriety  and  de 
liberate  firmness,  and  that  his  general  character  appears  unexceptionable. 

Extract  from  Certificate  with  the  Badge. — "  Now  therefore  know  ye  that  the 
aforesaid  Sergeant  ELIJAH  CHURCHILL  hath  fully  and  truly  deserved,  and  hath 
been  properly  invested  with  the  Honorary  Badge  of  Military  Merit,  and  i.« 
authorized  and  entitled  to  pass  and  repass  all  guards  and  Military  Posts  as  fully 
and  amply  as  any  Commissioned  Officer  whatever :  and  is  hereby  further 
recommended  to  that  favorable  notice  which  a  brave  and  faithful  soldier  de 
serves  from  his  countrymen. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  the  Headquarters  of  the  American  Army, 
this  first  day  of  May,  1783. 

"  By  his  Excellency,  Commander-in-Chief, 

"  JONA.  TRUMBULL,  JR. 

11  Secretary." 


406 


APPENDIX. 


BREVETS.* 

HE  first  brevet  given  by  Congress  (July  20,  1776)  was 
that  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  to  M.  de  Franchessin,  "a 
Knight  of  the  Order  of  St.  Louis,  an  experienced 
officer  in  the  French  service,  and  who  is  well  recom 
mended  in  letters  from  abroad." 

The  earliest  brevet  issued  for  special  gallantry  was 
(October  27,  1778)  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  to  M. 
Tousard  (afterward  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Command 
ant  of  Artillery  and  Engineers)  in  a  resolution  of 
Congress  which  read,  "  That  the  gallantry  of  Mon 
sieur  Tousard  in  the  late  action  on  Rhode  Island  is 
deserving  of  the  highest  applause." 

The  first  reward  of  this  kind  to  Americans  was  the 
brevet  of  Captain  to  Lieutenant  Henry  Knox  (after 
ward  Major-General  and  Secretary  of  War),  with  the  assurance  "  That  Con 
gress  warmly  approve  and  applaud  the  cool,  determined  spirit  with  which  (he) 
led  on  the  forlorn  hope  at  Stony  Point,  braving  danger  and  death  in  the  cause 
of  his  country." 

At  the  beginning  of  our  second  war  with  Great  Britain  there  was  not  a  single 
officer  living  who  held  a  brevet  in  our  Army,  and  Congress  passed  a  law  (July  6, 
1812)  that  "The  President  is  hereby  authorized  to  confer  brevet  rank  upon 
such  officers  of  the  Army  as  shall  distinguish  themselves  by  gallant  actions  or 
meritorious  conduct." 

During  the  war  with  Mexico,  the  following  law  was  made  by  Congress,  March 
3,  1847  : 

"  When  any  non-commissioned  officer  shall  distinguish  or  may  have  distinguished  him 
self  in  the  Service,  the  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  and  is  hereby  authorized,  on 
the  recommendation  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment  to  which  said  non-commis 
sioned  officer  belongs,  to  attach  him  by  brevet  of  the  lowest  grade  to  any  corps  of  the 
Army.  Provided,  that  there  shall  not  be  more  than  one  attached  to  any  one  company  at 
the  same  time." 

During  the  late  war  (March  3,  1863)  the  President  was  further  authorized  to 
brevet  "  commissioned  officers  of  the  volunteer  and  other  forces  in  the  United 
States  service  for  gallant  actions." 

*  Breret  is  derived  from  the  Latin  breve,  brevia,  words  still  preserved  in  English  law, 
meaning  a  brief  ;  a  parchment  containing  a  notification.  A  brevet  under  the  existing 
laws,  affecting  the  regular  military  service  of  the  United  States,  may  be  defined  as  a  com 
mission  conferring  upon  an  officer  a  grade  in  the  Army  additional  to  and  higher  than 
that  which,  at  the  time  it  is  bestowed,  he  holds  by  virtue  of  his  commission  in  a  particular 
corps  of  the  legally  established  military  organization.  "  History  and  Legal  Effects  of 
Brevets,"  by  Gen.  J.  B.  Fry,  U.  S.  A.  New  York:  D.  Van  Nostrand,  1877. 


MILITARY  MEDALS, 


407 


In  1869  it  was  enacted  that  "  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  commis 
sions  by  brevet  shall  only  be  conferred  in  time  of  War,  and  for  distinguished  con 
duct  and  public  service  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy." 


Congress  had  not  yet  proclaimed  the  independence  of 
the  Thirteen  United  Colonies,  when,  on  March  25,  1776,  it 
was  ordered  that  a  gold  medal  should  be  struck  and  pre 
sented  "  To  His  Excellency,  General  Washington,  for  his 
wise  and  spirited  conduct  in  the  siege  and  acquisition  of 
Boston."* 

Instructions  were  sent  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  then  in 
Paris,  to  employ  the  best  artists  in  France  for  the  purpose, 
and  the  medals  struck  by  order  of  Congress  for  certain 
heroes  of  the  Revolution  were  perfect  specimens  of  the 
medallic  art. 

Franklin's  ideas  upon  the  subject  are  expressed  in  the  fol 
lowing  extract  from  one  of   his  letters  to  the  Secretary 
\"  of  State,  dated  Passy,  May  10,  1785: 

*'  The  ancients,  when  they  ordained  a  medal  to  record  the  memory  of  any  laud 
able  action,  and  to  do  honor  to  the  performer  of  that  action,  struck  a  vast  num 
ber  and  used  them  as  money.  By  this  means  the  honor  was  extended  through 
their  own  and  neighboring  nations :  every  man  who  received  or  paid  a  piece  of 
money  was  reminded  of  the  virtuous  action,  the  person  who  performed  it  and 
the  reward  attending  it ;  and  the  number  gave  such  security  to  this  kind  of  mon 
ument  against  perishing  and  being  forgotten,  that  some  of  each  of  them  exist 
to  this  day,  though  more  than  two  thousand  years  old,  and  being  now  copied  in 
books  by  the  art  of  engraving  and  painting  are  not  only  exceedingly  multiplied, 
but  likely  to  remain  some  thousands  of  years  longer.  The  man  who  is  honored 
only  by  a  single  medal  is  obliged  to  show  it  to  enjoy  the  honor  which  can  be 
done  only  to  a  few,  and  often  awkwardly.  I  therefore  wish  the  medals  of  Con 
gress  were  ordered  to  be  money.'* 

Although  the  first  medal  voted  was  a  gold  medal  to  Washington,  the  first  one 
struck  was  the  silver  medal  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fleury,  one  of  the  young  of 
ficers  of  the  French  Army,  who  obtained  leave  to  enter  our  service  in  1777. 
His  devotion  to  our  cause  was  so  thorough,  and  his  exploits  so  gallant  that  they 
merit  brief  notice  here. 

Upon  arriving  in  America  this  officer,  who  was  an  engineer,  with  other  of  his 
countrymen,  applied  for  commissions.  General  Washington,  however,  declined 
to  grant  their  requests,  as  many  adventurers  had  already  entered  the  Service. 
Failing  to  obtain  an  appointment  as  an  officer,  De  Fleury  entered  the  ranks  and 


Loubat's  "  Medallic  History  United  States." 


408 


APPENDIX. 


soon  fought  his  way  to  promotion.  lie  was  wounded  and  had  a  horse  killed 
under  him  at  Fort  Mifflin,  for  which  Congress  voted  him  another  horse,  pro 
moted  him  a  lieutenant-colonel  (Nov.  26,  1777)  ^n  consideration  of  the  disin 
terested  gallantry  he  had  manifested  in  the  service  of  the  United  States." 

In  the  assault  upon  Stony  Point  (July  15,  1779)  he  commanded  one  of  the 
storming  parties,  was  the  first  to  enter  the  main  work,  and  struck  the  British 
flag  with  his  own  hands.  For  this  achievement  Congress  voted  him  a  silver 
medal  and  subsequently  a  vote  of  thanks  for  "  his  zeal,  activity,  military  genius 
and  gallantry."  He  served  under  Rochambeau  1780-82. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Colonel  Fleury  went  to  India,  and  in  1790 
returned  to  France.  He  was  put  on  the  pension  list  there,  but  continued  in 
active  service  with  the  rank  of  Marechal-de-camp  until  1792,  when,  during  the 
retreat  from  Mons,  his  horse  fell  and  he  was  ridden  over  by  part  of  a  regiment 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  was  permanently  disabled.  The  same  year,  at  the 
age  of  forty-three,  he  retired  from  the  Army. 

But  eighty-six  medals  in  all  have  been  struck  since  the  foundation  of  the  Gov 
ernment  of  the  United  States.  But  three  of  these  commemorate  episodes  of 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion:  one  to  General  Grant  for  his  victories,  one  to  Cor 
nelius  Vanderbilt  for  patriotic  generosity,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  War,  one  to 
George  Foster  Robinson  for  saving  the  life  of  Mr.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State.* 

THE    MEDAL   OF   HONOR. 

The  Medal  of  Honor  for  the  army  was  first  established  as  a  reward  for 
military  service  by  a  law  approved  July  12,  1862,  as  follows  : 

''  Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States 
of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be 
and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  cause  2000  '  medals  of  honor  '  to  be  prepared, 
with  suitable  emblematic  devices,  and  to  direct  that  the  same  be  presented  in 
the  name  of  Congress  to  such  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  as  shall 
most  distinguish  themselves  by  their  gallantry  in  action  and  their  soldier-like 
qualities  during  the  present  insurrection." 

This  was  followed  by  an  act  (March  3,  1863)  to  the  "  effect  that  the  Presi 
dent  cause  to  be  struck  from  the  dies  recently  prepared  at  the  United  States 
Mint  for  that  purpose  '  Medals  of  Honor  '  additional  to  those  authorized  by  the 
act  of  July  12,  1862,  and  present  the  same  to  such  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  as  have  most  distinguished  or  may  hereafter  most  distin 
guish  themselves  in  action  ;  and  the  sum  of  $20,000  is  hereby  appropriated 
out  of  any  money  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  same." 

The  medal  t  is  described  as  "  a  five-pointed  star,  tipped  with  trefoil,  each  point 

*  See  p.  front,  to  Foiling  an  Assassin. 

t  For  fac-simile  of  the  Medal  of  Honor,  see  opposite  first  page  of  Preface, 


THE  MEDAL  OF  HONOR. 

containing  a  crown  of  laurel  and  oak;  in  the  middle,  within  a  circle  of  thirty, 
four  stars,  America,  personified  as  Minerva,  stands  with  her  left  hand  resting 
on  the  fasces,  while  with  her  right,  in  which  she  holds  a  shield  emblazoned 
with  the  American  arms,  she  repulses  Discord,  represented  by  two  snakes  in 
each  hand  ;  the  whole  suspended  by  a  trophy  of  two  crossed  cannons,  balls 
and  a  sword  surmounted  by  the  American  eagle,  which  is  united  by  a  ribbon 
of  thirteen  stripes,  palewise,  gules  and  argent  and  a  chief  azure,  to  a  clasp 
composed  of  two  cornucopias  and  the  American  arms." 

General  E.  D.  Townsend  (late  Adjutant-General  of  the  Army)  says:  * 

'*  As  soon  as  news  of  the  Civil  War  in  the  United  States  became  known  in 
Europe,  many  persons  who  had  been  officers  in  foreign  armies  came  to  offer 
their  services  to  the  Government.  It  frequently  happened  that  these  gentlemen 
brought  letters  of  introduction  and  testimonials  of  their  military  career.  Some 
times  they  came  accredited  to  our  Department  of  State.  They  usually  paid 
their  respects  to  General  Scott,  and  not  unfrequently,  on  such  an  occasion,  wore 
their  uniform,  with  all  their  decorations — medals  or  orders.  There  were 
many  men  in  our  volunteer  service  who  had  served  abroad,  and  it  was  quite 
the  habit  among  them  to  display  on  their  uniforms  such  marks  of  distinction 
if  they  possessed  them.  It  is  no  wonder  if  they  were  objects  of  envy  to  many 
of  our  young  aspirants  for  military  glory 

"  The  experience  of  the  Mexican  War,  when  the  honor  of  a  brevet  was  so 
often  persistently  sought  for  through  political  influence,  sometimes  without 
any  special  military  merit  to  sustain  it,  early  suggested  to  me  the  probability 
that  the  same  evil,  in  magnified  form,  would  arise  during  the  Civil  War.  It  was 
very  desirable,  therefore,  if  possible,  to  prevent  what  afterward  actually  hap 
pened,  the  destruction  of  the  practical  benefit  arising  from  the  brevet  system. 
Instead  of  tardy  and  sometimes  indiscriminate  recommendations  for  brevets, 
why  should  not  our  generals,  when  in  command  of  armies  in  time  of  war,  be 
clothed  with  the  power  of  rewarding  distinguished  acts  of  bravery,  on  the 
instant,  by  issuing  orders  conferring  a  medal  for  them,  such  orders  to  be  as 
soon  as  possible  confirmed  and  executed  by  the  War  Department  ?  Mistakes 
would  rarely,  if  ever,  be  made;  and  the  excellent  effect  of  a  prompt  recognition 
of  gallantry  in  battle  is  no  new  thing  in  history. 

"Impressed  with  these  ideas,  I,  early  in  1861,  urged  their  adoption  upon 
General  Scott,  and  upon  the  chairman  of  the  Senate  Military  Committee,  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and  others  in  influence.  They  objected  that  it  was  contrary 
to  the  spirit  of  our  institutions  to  wear  decorations,  and  therefore  the  measure 
would  not  be  popular.  I  instanced  the  pride  which  children  feel  in  wearing 
medals  won  at  schools,  and  the  pains  taken  by  parents  to  foster  it;  and  sug 
gested  that,  if  those  who  won  medals  did  not  choose  to  wear  them,  they 
would  none  the  less  value  them,  and  so  would  their  descendants  after  them. 


*  "  Anecdotes  of  the  Civil  War,"  by  Gen.  E.  D.  Townsend.     New  York  :    D.  Appleton 
&  Co. 


4io 


APPENDIX. 


Nothing  was  done  in  that  direction,  however,  until  the  I2th  of  July,  1862, 
when  Congress  passed  a  resolution  to  award  medals  of  honor  to  enlisted  men, 
which,  by  the  act  of  March  3,  1863,  was  extended  to  officers  also.  These 
medals,  although  intrinsically  of  but  little  value,  have  been  eagerly  sought  for 
and  highly  prized.  The  main  objection  to  them  is  the  mode  of  conferring, 
under  which  years  have  sometimes  elapsed  before  sufficientl"}'  reliable  testi 
mony  could  be  obtained  that  the  claimant  was  justly  entitled  to  one,  according 
to  the  terms  of  the  law." 

In  Gen.  Townsend's  annual  report,  1864,  the  matter  was  presented  to  the 
notice  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  of  Congress,  in  these  words : 

"  '  The  Medal  of  Honor  is  of  bronze,  of  neat  device,  and  is  highly  prized  by 
those  on  whom  it  has  been  bestowed.  Hitherto  no  medals  have  been  conferred 
upon  commissioned  officers,  apparent'y  under  the  idea  that  at  some  future  day 
their  acts  of  distinguished  bravery  would  be  recognized  by  brevets.  It  is 
believed  that,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  the  award  of  a  gold  or  silver  medal 
would  be  quite  as  acceptable  as  the  brevet,  and  of  more  substantial  value,  es 
pecially  in  the  volunteer  service.  ...  If  any  act  were  passed  to  authorize 
it,  a  prompt  and  gratifying  acknowledgment  of  distinguished  services  could  be 
made,  by  publishing  a  general  order  awarding  to  the  officer  "  the  gold  medal  " 
or  the  "  silver  medal,"  with  the  privilege  of  engraving  thereon  the  name  and 
date  of  the  battle  in  which  his  gallantry  was  conspicuous.  In  case  of  his  again 
winning  distinction,  he  would  be  authorized  in  general  orders  to  add  to  the 
inscription  upon  his  medal  the  name  and  date  of  his  new  exploit.  If  both 
gold  and  silver  medals  were  authorized,  there  would  be  no  objection  to  the 
same  officer  being  the  recipient  of  both,  if  won  by  meritorious  conduct  at  dif 
ferent  times,  and  different  in  degree.  The  system  of  medals  need  in  no  wise 
interfere  with  the  conferring  of  brevet  rank  in  cases  where  such  rank  might  be 
actually  exercised  in  high  commands,  or  at  the  discretion  of  the  President;  but 
it  would  relieve  the  pressure  for  brevets  on  the  part  of  the  many  officers  who 
justly  believe  they  have  won  a  title  to  some  mark  of  honor,  and  would  avoid 
the  many  vexed  questions  likely  to  arise  from  the  possession  of  brevet  rank 
by  so  large  a  number  of  officers  as  reasonably  prefer  a  claim  to  reward." 

CORPS    BADGES. 

As  a  sort  of  substitute  for  medals,  the  Corps  Badges  have 
come  to  be  regarded  as  a  proud  mark  of  distinction,  and  me 
morial  of  service  in  the  War  1861-5. 

To  Mpjor-General  Joseph  Hooker  probably  belongs  the 
'credit  of  first  having  issued  orders  for  the  adoption  of  regular 
corps  badges,  to  be  worn  by  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  all 
the  regiments  of  various  corps  through  the  entire  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Just  before  the  Chancellorsville  campaign,  on 
the  2ist  of  March,  1863,  he  issued  a  circular  prescribing  the  device  for  a  badge 
for  each  corps,  "for  the  purpose  of  ready  recognition  of  corps  and  divisions  of 


SECOND  CORPS. 


CORPS  BADGES.  4 ,  { 

this  army,  and  to  prevent  injustice  by  reports  of  straggling  and  misconduct, 
through  mistake  as  to  their  organizations."  They  were  to  be  "fastened  on 
the  centre  of  the  top  of  the  cap."  The  devices  seem  to  have  been  arbitrarily 
chosen,  without  particular  significance. 

The  divisions  of  each  corps  were  indicated  by  one  of  the  colors,  red,  white, 
blue  ;  and  green  and  orange,  if  there  were  more  than  three  divisions,  upon  some 
part  of  the  badges.  They  were  either  suspended  by  the  tri-colored  ribbon,  or 
fastened  with  a  pin.  As  there  were  usually  three  divisions  in  a  corps,  the  na 
tional  colors  were  the  ones  sure  to  be  represented.  For  the  headquarters, 
some  slight  modifications  were  made  in  the  form  worn  by  the  divisions. 
When  several  army  corps  were  consolidated  into  an  "army,"  the  badge  of  that 
army  headquarters  consisted  of  a  combination  in  one  of  all  those  of  the  corps. 

Corps  badges  have  now  a  legal  recognition  in  the  Revised  Statutes  of  the 
United  States  : 

"  Section  1227.  All  persons  who  have  served  as  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers,  privates,  or  other  enlisted  men,  in  the  regular  Army,  Volunteer,  or 
Militia  forces  of  the  United  States,  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  have 
been  honorably  discharged  from  the  Service,  or  still  remain  in  the  same,  shall 
be  entitled  to  wear,  on  occasions  of  ceremony,  the  distinctive  army  badge 
ordered  for  or  adopted  by  the  army  corps  and  division,  respectively,  in  which 
they  served." 

From  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis  this  legend  of  the  Acorn  Badge 
was  received  :  After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Rosecran's  army 
[made     a     stand     at     and     around     Chattanooga.       This     army, 
lowing  to  exceedingly  muddy  roads,  and  the  cutting  of  its  lines  of 
communication  by  the  Confederates,  had   great    difficulty  in   get 
ting  supplies.     The  Fourteenth  Corps  was  encamped  near  a  wood 
of  oak  trees,  which  were  at  that  time  covered  with  acorns.     As 
the  rations  fell  short,  many  of  the  men  gathered  the   acorns  and 
FOURTEENTH  ate  them  roasted,  till  at  length  it  was  observed  that  they  had  be- 
RPS-       come  quite  an  important  part  of  the  ration,  and  the  men  of  the 
corps  jestingly   called  themselves    "The    Acorn  Boys." 

In  announcing  this  badge,  Major-General  John  A. 
Logan,  commanding  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  says  :  "  If 
any  corps  in  the  army  has  a  right  to  take  a  pride  in 
its  badge,  surely  that  has  which  looks  back  through 
the  long  and  glorious  line  (enumerating  thirty-five 
engagements  and  battles,  and  scores  of  minor  strug 
gles)  ;  the  corps  which  had  its  birth  under  Grant  and 
Sherman  in  the  darker  days  of  our  struggle ;  the 
corps  which  will  keep  on  struggling  until  the  death 
of  the  Rebellion." 

The  device  of  the  badge  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  was 
suggested  by  the  following  incident :  The   Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  were 


4 1 2  APPENDIX. 

transferred  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumber 
land.  They  were  better  dressed  than  the  other  troops  of  that  department,  and 
a  little  rivalry  sprang  up  between  these  Eastern  boys  and  those  who  came 
from  the  West.  The  latter  spoke  of  the  former  as  "  the  men  who  wore  paper 
shirt-collars,  and  crescents  and  stars."  Before  the  Fifteenth  Corps  had  any 
badge,  an  Irishman  belonging  to  it  went  to  the  river  near  camp  to  fill  his  can 
teen.  There  he  met  a  soldier  of  one  of  the  newly  arrived  corps,  whose  badges 
were  the  subject  of  ridicule  by  his  comrades.  The  latter  saluted  the  Irishman 
with  the  query,  "  What  corps  do  you  belong  to  ?  "  "  The  Fifteenth,  sure.': 
"  Well,  then,  where  is  your  badge  ?  "  "  My  badge,  is  it?  Well  "  (clapping  his 
hand  on  his  cartridge-box),  "here's  my  badge  !  Forty  rounds!  It's  the  orders 
to  always  have  forty  rounds  in  our  cartridge-box,  and  we  always  do." 

Major-General  Francis  P.  Blair  says  in   his 
order :      "  The  badge  now  worn  by  the  corps 
being    similar    to     one   formerly   adopted   by 
SEVENTEENTH  CORPS.  another  corps,  the  major-general  commanding 

has  concluded  to  adopt,  as  a  distinguishing  badge  for  the  command,  an  ar 
row. 

"  In  its  swiftness,  in  its  surety  of  striking  where  wanted,  and  its  destructive 
powers  when  so  intended,  it  is  probably  as  emblematical  of  this  corps  as  any 
design  that  could  be  adopted." 

This  corps  was  organized  late  in  the  war,  and  was  for 
the  most  part  composed  of  veterans  who  had  served  in 
other  corps.  Major-General  John  Gibbon,  in  his  orders 
adopting  the  badge,  says :  "  The  symbol  selected  is  one 
which  testifies  our  affectionate  regard  for  all  our  brave 
comrades — alike  the  living  and  the  dead,  who  have  braved 
the  perils  of  this  mighty  conflict, — and  our  devotion  to  the 
sacred  cause — a  cause  which  entitles  us  to  the  sym 
pathy  of  every  brave  and  true  heart,  and  the  support  of 
every  strong  and  determined  hand. 

"  The  major-general  commanding  the  corps  does  not  doubt  that  the  soldiers 
who  have  given  their  strength  and  blood  to  the  fame  of  their  former  badges 
will  unite  in  rendering  the  present  one  even  more  renowned  than  those  under 
which  they  have  heretofore  marched  to  battle." 

This  corps  was  composed  entirely  of  colored  soldiers. 
It  was  the  first  to  occupy  Richmond,  Virginia,  April  3, 
1865.  The  following  is  Major-General  Godfrey  Weitzel's 
order : 

"  In  view  of  the  circumstances  under  which  this  corps 
was  raised  and  filled,  the  peculiar  claims  of  its  individual 

TWENTY-FIFTH     CORPS.  .  .  ,-.,..  ,        , 

members  upon  the  justice  and  fair  dealing  of  the  preju 
diced,  and  the  regularity  of  the  conduct  of  the  troops  which  deserve  those  equal 
rights  that  have  hitherto  been  denied  the  majority,  the  commanding  general 


CERTIFICATE  OF  MERIT. 


413 


has  been  induced  to  adopt  the  square  as  the  distinctive  badge  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Army  Corps. 

"  Wherever  danger  has  been  found  and  glory  to  be  won,  the  heroes  who 
have  fought  for  immortality  have  been  distinguished  by  some  emblem  to  which 
every  victory  added  a  new  iustre.  They  looked  upon  their  badge  with  pride, 
for  to  it  they  had  given  its  fame.  In  the  homes  of  smiling  peace  it  recalled  the 
days  of  courageous  endurance  and  the  hours  of  deadly  strife,  and  it  solaced  the 
moment  of  death,  for  it  was  a  symbol  of  a  life  of  heroism  and  self-denial. 

"  Soldiers  !  to  you  is  given  a  chance,  in  this  Spring  campaign,  of  making 
this  badge  immortal.  Let  history  record  that,  on  the  banks  of  the  James, 
thirty  thousand  freemen  not  only  gained  their  own  liberty,  but  shattered  the 
prejudice  of  the  world,  and  gave  to  the  land  of  their  birth  peace,  union,  and 
glory." 

CERTIFICATES   OF    MERIT. 

During  the  War  with  Mexico  a  law  was  passed  that  "when  any  private 
soldier  shall  so  distinguish  himself  (or  may  have  distinguished  himself  in  the 
Service)  the  President  may  (upon  the  recommendation  of  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  regiment)  grant  him  a  Certificate  of  Merit,  which  shall  entitle  him 
to  additional  pay  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  month  (March  3,  1847). 


414 


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PUBLICATIONS  OF  G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS. 

Uncle  Sam's  Medal  of  Honor.  An  account  of  some  noble 
deeds  for  which  it  has  been  conferred  in  the  United  States. 
By  THEO.  F.  RODENBOUGH,  Bvt.  Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  A. 
Large  i2mo,  with  106  illustrations  (portraits  and  battle- 
scenes)  ••••-v!--(^  ;^;Y'4 . :;:•/:" '*,-•" v' '•'"•.'•  !  .<?0«T.'.:i-»V  •  $2-°° 

The  United  States  Medal  of  Honor  was  instituted  by  Congress  in  1862, 
and  is  similar  in  character  to  the  "  Badge  of  Merit "  instituted  by  Washington, 
Ihe  Victoria  Cross,  etc.  It  is  the  only  authorized  military  decoration  for  valor 
in  this  country,  and  this  volume  has  been  planned  to  present  some  of  the  most 
stirring  and  dramatic  incidents  connected  with  the  history  of  the  medal. 

The  narratives  are,  in  many  cases,  related  by  the  actors. 

Flags  are  captured,  wounded  comrades  are  rescued  under  deadly  fire,  and 
curious  adventures  on  the  frontier  are  related  in  a  plain  "  camp-fire  "  fashion- 
principally  by  men  in  the  ranks. 

"  Young  America  "  will  find  this  book  a  wholesome  substitute  for  the  dime 
novel,  while  "Our  Veterans"  can  rely  on  the  historical  accuracy  of  the 
statements. 

Recollections  of  a  Private  Soldier.  A  narrative  by  one  who 
fought  in  the  ranks  through  the  long  campaigns  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  By  FRANK  WILKESON.  Uniform  with 
EGGLESTON'S  "  A  Rebel's  Recollections."  i6mo,  cloth,  $1.00 

It  is  the  idea  of  the  writer  that  existing  war  narratives  are  too  exclusively 
from  the  point  of  view  of  the  commanders,  and  that  some  account  of  what  was 
being  said  and  thought  by  the  men  in  the  ranks  will  possess  personal  interest 
and  historical  value. 

A  Rebel's  Recollections.  By  GEO.  GARY  EGGLESTON  (late 
of  the  Confederate  Army).  Third  edition.  i6mo,  cloth,  $1.00 

This  volume  makes  a  curious  complement  to  that  of  Mr.  Wilkeson,  pre 
senting  a  graphic  picture  of  the  way  things  looked  to  a  private  in  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia. 

"  The  author  deserves  the  thanks  of  all  true  Americans  .  .  .  His  sketches 
are  models  of  characterization." — Philadelphia  bulletin, 

The  Naval  War  of  1812  ;  Or,  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES  NAVY  DURING  THE  LAST  WAR  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN  ; 
to  which  is  appended  an  account  of  the  Battle  of  New 
Orleans.  By  THEODORE  ROOSEVELT,  author  of  "  Hunting 
Trips  of  a  Ranchman,"  etc.  Third  edition,  octavo,  $2.50 

"  The  style  is  singularly  concise,  lucid,  and  forcible.  The  reader  of  Mr. 
Roosevelt's  book  unconsciously  makes  up  his  mind  that  he  is  reading  history 
and  not  romance,  and  yet  no  romance  could  surpass  it  in  interest,  and  it  is 
certain  to  have  a  wide  and  permanent  popularity." — Philadelphia  Times. 

Gi.-P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS. 

The   Political   Conspiracies    Preceding    the    Rebellion, 

and  the  True  Stories  of  Sumter  and  Pickens.      By  THOMAS 
M.  ANDERSON,  Lieut.-Col.,  U.  S.  A.      Octavo,  cloth,  75    cts. 

"It  is  the  history  of  the  plots  and  machinations  that  preceded  the  great 
struggle  which  give  to  this  volume  its  special  value." — Boston  Transcript. 

Military  Life  in  Italy.  Translated  by  W.  W.  CADY,  from 
the  Italian  of  EDMONDO  DE  AMICIS.  Octavo,  with  eight  full- 
page  illustrations  .  ;.:,:  -•  v  -:.  ."V:v  V-;.  E  •  •^•'-  R«$«5  .  $2.00 

CONTENTS. — A  Midsummer  March  —  The  Orderly — The  Officer  of  the 
Guard — The  Wounded  Sentinel — The  Mother — The  Son  of  the  Regiment — 
The  Conscript — A  Bunch  of  Flowers — A  Nocturnal  March — Carmela — That 
Day — The  Sentinel  —  The  Camp  —  The  Disabled  Soldier  —  A  Medal  —  An 
Original  Orderly — At  Twenty — Departure  and  Return — Reminiscences  of  the 
Campaign  of  1866 — Dead  on  the  Field  of  Battle — The  Cholera  Season. 

A  History  of  the  Thirty  Years'  War.  By  ANTON  GINDELY, 
Professor  of  German  History  in  the  University  of  Prague. 
Translated  by  A.  TEN  BROOK.  With  twenty-eight  illustra 
tions  and  two  maps.  Two  volumes  octavo  ".'"'  .  $4.00 

"It  is  singular  that  the  literature  of  history  should  have  been  obliged  to  wait 
two  hundred  years  and  more  for  a  satisfactory  account  of  that  strange  compound 
of  political,  religious,  and  military  events  known  as  the  Thirty  Years'  War. 
And  yet  the  explanation  is  not  far  to  seek  .  .  .  Until  within  the  present 
century  the  secrets  of  the  war  were  locked  up  in  the  archives  of  the  states  and 
the  muniment  rooms  of  the  old  German  nobility.  It  is  only  very  recently, 
therefore,  that  any  thing  like  a  genuine  history  has  been  possible  .  .  .  and 
such  a  work  has  now  been  given  to  us  by  Prof.  Gindely." — JV.  Y.  Nation. 

The  Life  and  Campaigns  of  Frederick  the  Great.     By 

Col.  C.  B.  BRACKENBURY,  of  the  British  Army.     i6mo,  $1.00 

"It  is  written  in  a  very  interesting  style,  and  shows  good  judgment  in  the 
selection  of  materials,  and  a  clear  conception  of  the  relation  of  Frederick  to 
general  history." — Nation. 

Reminiscences  of  the  " Filibuster"  War  in  Nicaragua. 

By  Col.  C.  W.  DOUBLED  AY.     Octavo,  cloth         .         .     $1.25 

"  The  story  of  his  wild  and  stirring  adventures  in  those  petty  but  blood.y 
struggles  is  told  with  singular  simplicity  aud  modesty.  .  .  .  Mr.  Doubleday 
has  written  a  book  of  rare  and  curious  interest,  and  he  presents  his  views  on 
the  canal  question  with  a  cogency  that  invites  attentive  consideration.*' — 
Chicago  Times. 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 


Travel  and  Description. 


THE  ABODE  OF  SNOW.  Observations  of  a  tour  from  Chinese 
Thibet  to  the  valleys  of  the  Himalayas.  By  ANDREW  WILSON. 
Octavo,  cloth  .  »  ,  *  .  ,  ,  .  *  ,  .'•  •  $2  oo 

"  Worthy  of  highest  praise.  There  is  not  a  page  in  the  handsome  volume  of 
nearly  500  pages  which  will  not  repay  perusal.  *  *  *  Written  with  inimitable 
spirit.." — London  A  tlmna'ittn. 

THE  GREAT  FUR  LAND  ;  or,  SKETCHES  OF  LIFE  IN  THE  HUDSON'S 
BAY  TERRITORY.  By  H.  M.  KOHINSON,  formerly  United  States 
Consul  at  Manitoba.  With  numerous  illustrations  from  designs  by 
CHARLES  GASCHE.  I2mo,  cloth  extra  .  /v.;.j-f .*-«  ',  »•*  y;*.  $*  7S 

"  Mr.  Robinson's  narratives  exhibit  a  freshness  and  glow  of  delineation,  founded 
on  a  certain  novelty  of  adventure  which  commands  the  attention  of  the  reader,  and 
makes  his  story  as  attractive  as  a  romance. — "A".  Y.  Tribune. 

ITALIAN  RAMBLES.  By  JAMES  JACKSON  JARVES,  author  of  "  The 
Art  Idea,"  "  Italian  Sights,"  etc.  i6mo,  cloth  extra  .  .  $1  25 

Picturesque  and  vivid  descriptions  of  people  and  places  in  out-of-the-way  nooks 
in  Italy.  Mr.  Jarves  possesses  not  only  literary  skill,  but  a  thorough  knowledge, 
based  on  a  sojourn  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  of  the  country  of  which  he  writes. 

STUDIES  OF  PARIS.  By  EDMONDO  DE  AMICIS,  author  of  "Con- 
stantinople,"  "  Holland  and  Its  People,"  "  Spain  and  the  Spaniards," 
11  Morocco :  Its  People  and  Places,"  etc.  Translated  from  the 
Italian  by  W.  W.  CADY.  Octavo,  cloih  .  .  .  .  $i  25 

"  De  Amicis  has  comprehended  the  manifold  amazement,  the  potent  charm  of 
Paris  as  no  writer  before  him  has  done." — Press,  Portland. 

A  LADY'S  LIFE  IN  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS.  By  ISA 
BELLA  BIRD,  author  of  "  Six  Months  in  the  Sandwich  Islands," 
"  Unbeaten  Tracks  in  Japan, "etc.  Octavo,  cloth,  illustrated,  $1  75 

"  Miss  Bird  is  an  ideal  writer.  *  *  *  She  has  regard  to  the  essentials  of  a 
scene  or  episode,  and  describes  these  with  a  simplicity  that  is  as  effective  as  it  is 
artless." — London  Spectator. 

TENT   LIFE    IN   SIBERIA,   AND   ADVENTURES    AMONG 
THE     KORAKS     AND     OTHER     TRIBES     IN     KAM- 
TCHATKA  AND    NORTHERN  ASIA.     By  GEORGE  KEN- 
NAN.     Seventh  edition.     12010,  cloth          .          .         .         .         $i  75 
The  London  Spectator  says  it  is  "  racy,  clear,  full  of  humor,  and  full  of  interest." 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S   SONS,  New  York  and  London. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS. 

A  History  of  the  Thirty  Years'  War.  By  ANTON  GINDELY,  Professor 
of  German  History  in  the  University  of  Prague.  Translated  by 
ANDREW  TEN  BROOK,  recently  Professor  of  Mental  Philosophy  in  the 
University  of  Michigan.  With  twenty-eight  illustrations  and  two  maps. 
With  an  introductory  and  a  concluding  chapter  by  the  Translator. 

f-t'.'i     'V.    "  -\  ">{    •'"•     j 

Two  volumes,  octavo,  pp.  xvi.  +  456,  vi.  +  454     ':-v'/(, ^  >"}£-••  ;     $4  oo 

41  Indispensable  to  the  student.  For  the  general  reader  it  is  one  of  the. most  pic 
turesque  in  history. "-^Har'ford  Courant. 

"  Unquestionably  the  best  history  of  the  Thirty  Years'  War  that  has  ever  been 
\vritten," — Baltimore  A  merican. 

A  History  of  American  Literature.  By  MOSES 'Corr  TYLER,  Professor 
of  American  History  and  Literature  in  Cornell  University.  Bradstreet 
edition.  Vols.  I.  and  II.,  comprising  the  period  1607-1765.  Large 
octavo,  pp.  xx.  +  292,  xi.  +  330,  handsomely  bound  in  cloth  extra, 

gilt    tops    .  .'     •'•''". -;:    ..'•'•     .  •-•"  '•'•{  .  - -'•*''  J' ''   '  '•',''•  •••'•  .         ,/iO;:i   V.-l      6OO 

Half  calf  extra   ;  '";';;•"  !  "V'  ;U''jJ  ',  V/,'',.V '»''.•••''"  '..'V  :l'.^'.-. '''''^.."'.'.""'VVV."'  n  oo 

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"It  is  not  only  written  in  a  style  of  exceptional  grace,  but  it  is  the  first  of  most 

thorough  research,  and  consequently  it  throws  light  into  a  great  number  of  corners 

that  hitherto  have  been  very  obscure." — Prest.  C.  K.  ADAMS. 

Prose    Masterpieces    from    Modern    Essayists.     Comprising    single 
specimen  essays  (each  selection  is  tmmutilated  and  entire)  from  Irving, 
Leigh  Hunt,   Lamb,  L)e  Quincey,  Landor,  Sydney  Smith,   Thackeray, 
Emerson,    Arnold,  Morley,  Helps,  Kingsley,   Curtis,  Lowell,  Carlyle, 
Macaulay,    Froude,    Freeman,    Gladstone,    Newman,   Leslie   Stephen. 
Compiled  by  G.  II.  PUTNAM. 
Three  volumes,  i6mo,  cloth      .         .         .       .,        iff       .         •       3  75 

The  same,  in  extra  cloth,  gilt  tops    .         ...   *  \-  *  \    .r :  v  .  t.    -.       4  50 

The  same  in  flexible  imitation  seal  binding  and  case,  round  corners,  red 
edges        .         .         .         .    H  •••;•  ,'•  v   £     ^IN.M.J^S  iv4.-:.:v.-' ;     >:  .     10  oo 

The  same,   large-paper  edition,  octavo,  with  portraits,  cloth  extra,  gilt 
tops,  rough  edges      .         .         .         .         ......     ......  ,    ^     ...,_.     7  50 

11  Three  charming  little  volumes,  showing  admirable  judgment  on  the  part  of  the 
editor." — Chicago  Tribune. 

"A  most  admirable  collection,  which  presents  not  only  specimens  of  the  best  Eng 
lish  style,  but  the  methods  of  thought  and  characteristic  modes  of  expression  of  the 
several  writers." — Magazine  of  American  History. 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS,  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS. 

France  under  Mazarin.  By  JAMES  BRECK  PERKINS.  With  a  Sketch 
of  the  Administration  of  Richelieu.  With  photogravure  portraits 
of  Mazarin,  Richelieu,  Louis  XIII.,  and  Conde.  Two  volumes, 
octavo  .  "•Ji-'--!r^J(  v-r  /i--.'0i:;0*.'7.-'  f;«  \"-\>-}  Tv^^:;r/r  <."  $500 

"  It  is  interesting,  it  is  suggestive,  it  is  trustworthy,  and  in  all  essentials  it  is  credit 
able.  It  can  be  recommended  as  a  solifl,  conscientious,  thorough!}'  \vorked-out  book. 
...  Its  permanent  value  is  increased  by  a  good  index." — N.  Y,  Tribune. 

The  Peace  of  Utrecht.  By  JAMES  W.  GERARD.  An  Historical  Review 
of  the  Great  Treaty  of  1713-14,  and  of  the  Principal  Events  of  the  War 
of  the  Spanish  Succession.  WTith  Maps.  Octavo,  cloth,  bevelled 
boards,  gilt  tops,  uncut  edges,  pp.  xv.  +  420  .  ;•.  i-  tj.  •«»;<»;'•:•«  3  oo 

11  Mr.  Gerard  has  opened  up  a  mine  of  historical  wealth  which  will  be  a  revelation 
to  many  who  have  been  accustomed  to  regard  themselves  as  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  subject."— Detroit  Free  Press. 

English  Thought  in  the  Eighteenth  Century.  By  LESLIE  STEPHEN, 
Author  of  "  Hours  in  a  Library,"  etc.,  etc.  Second  and  revised  edi 
tion.  Two  volumes,  large  octavo,  pp.  xv.  +  466,  xi.  +  469  .  .  8  oo 

"A  work  of  research  and  deliberation,  every  way  worthy  of  the  author's  reputa 
tion.  Conscientious,  thoughtful,  abounding  in  ripe  reflection,  and  in  judgment  tem 
pered  and  weighed  by  experience.  We  feel  we  have  in  our  hands  a  book  which  it  is 
worth  while  to  read.  .  .  .  It  is  little  to  say  these  volumes  are  the  most  complete 
survey  we  have  of  our  eighteenth-century  literature." — London  Academy, 

On  English  Literature  in  the  Reign  of  Victoria,  with  a  Glance  at 
the  Past.  By  HENRY  MORLEY,  Professor  of  English  Literature  in 
the  University  of  London.  With  fac-similes  of  the  signatures  of  250 
of  the  authors  referred  to. 

Popular  edition,  square  ibmo,  pp.  xl.  +  416    .".    .'- .,.'7' :'','.•'•  ,.  .'•«  "       75 
Library  edition,  crown  octavo,  cloth  extra,  pp.  xl.  +  361        ?»'.-••  2  co 

41  This  thoroughly  excellent  work  presents  a  comprehensive  survey  of  the  literature 
from  the  time  of  Caedmon,  through  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  Anne,  down  to  the 
reign  of  Queen  Victoria,  .  .  .  It  is  a  book  teachers  and  students  of  .literature  will 
find  not  only  exceedingly  instructive,  but  helpful  in  their  work  as  educators.  It 
should  be  in  every  well-chosen  library."— New  England  Journal  of  Education. 

A  History  of  English  Prose  Fiction.  BY  BAYARD  TUCKERMAN. 
From  Sir  Edward  Malory  to  George  Eliot. 

Crown  octavo,  pp.  331 •  >;£oY  f'sH  '       *  7S 

"It  has  the  merit  of  brevity,  and  gives  an  intelligible  and  useful  review  of  the  de 
velopment  of  English  prose  fiction."— Independent. 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS,  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON. 


FRANCE  UNDER  RICHELIEU  AND  MAZARIN. 

A  History  of  France  under  Mazarin,  with  a  Review  of  the 
Administration  of  Richelieu.  By  James  Breck  Perkins. 
2  vols.,  octavo,  with  four  portraits  ^sf -...-  •  .....  .  $5  oo 

"It  is  refreshing  to  find  an  historic  work  which  appears  to  be  written  in 
a  calm,  judicial  spirit,  in  which  there  is  no  disposilion,  on  the  one  hand,  to 
glorify,  or,  on  the  other,  to  damn  Richelieu,  or  anybody  else,  merely  be 
cause  he  did  not  subscribe  to  the  same  creed  to  which  the  historian  adheres. 
It  is  scarcely,  if  at  all,  possible  to  tell  whether  Mr.  Perkins  is  a  Romanist, 
Protestant,  or  Agnostic,  audit  is  immensely  to  his  credit,  as  an  historian,  that 
such  is  the  case.  It  is  possible  that  time  may  show  the  estimate  of  this  work 
to  be  too  high  ;  but  it  certainly  seems  to  rank  with  the  best  work  of  Motley, 
or  Lecky,  or  Macaulay  in  the  field  cf  history.  It  is  superior  to  either  in  its 
absolute  impartiality,  and  in  evidence  of  close,  unsparing  research  ;  and 
equal  to  either  in  a  certain  sustained  dignity  and  manly  directness  of  style, 
qualities  which  seem  peculiarly  apt  in  the  historian.  .  .  .  This  notice  has 
already  extended  beyond  reasonable  limits.  The  excuse  therefor  must  be 
found  in  the  admirable  character  of  Mr.  Perkins*  work,  its  comprehensive 
scope,  the  industry  which  has  gone  to  sources  of  information  scarcely  known 
to  the  historians  who  have  treated  the  period, — or,  if  known,  practically  dis 
regarded,— the  fairness  of  its  spirit,  the  easy  dignity  of  its  style,  and  the  perfect 
confidence  with  which  it  threads  its  way  among  the  tortuous  intrigues  and 
cabals  of  the  period." — Chicago  Times. 

"  His  book  defines  more  lucidly  and  precisely  than  any  other  English 
work  with  which  we  are  acquainted  how  much  the  Minister  of  Louis  XIII. 
found  already  done  and  how  much  he  left  undone.  Mr.  Perkins'  account  of 
France  under  the  Cardinals  is  a  vigorous  and  cogent  rehabilitation  of 
Mazarin.  .  .  .  Here  we  touch  the  novel  and  most  instructive  results  of 
Mr.  Perkins'  researches,  and  he  was  well  counselled  in  assigning  much  the 
larger  part  of  his  two  volumes  to  this  section  of  his  theme.  .  .  .  Fortunate 
indeed  would  Germany  and  the  House  of  Hohenzollern  be,  if  Bismarck 
might  count  on  a  successor  such  as  Mr.  Perkins,  first  among  English  students 
of  the  epoch,  has  disclosed  to  us  in  Mazarin." — N.  Y.  Sun* 

"  The  genuine  student  of  history  will  hail  these  volumes  with  delight.  It 
is  safe  to  say  that  English  readers  for  the  first  time  have  a  luminous,  im 
partial,  exceedingly  well-written  history  of  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth 
century  in  France.  .  .  .  The  history  of  the  administration  of  the  adroit 
Jules  Mazarin  is  told  in  a  way  to  excite  an  interest  which  one  feels  while 
reading  Macaulay.  Mr.  Perkins  has  the  gift  of  stating  what  in  other  hands 
would  be  dry  details  in  a  most  interesting  manner.  The  chapter  on  "  Social 
Life  and  Customs"  has  all  the  interest  of  a  romance."— St.  Paul  Pioneer 
Press. 

"  Summarizing  thus  some  of  the  principal  features  of  Mr.  Perkins'  brilliant 
work,  it  will  be  discovered  that  his  labors  have  been  conducted  with  a  degree 
of  patience,  intelligence,  and  thought  fulness  which  will  make  his  history 
successful.  The  work  of  Mr.  Perkins  has  an  intrinsic  value  seldom  acquired 
by  historians  of  the  French," — St.  Louis  Republican. 

G.  P..  PUTNAM'S  SONS, 

NEW  YORK  :  LONDON  : 

27  AND  29  WEST  23!)  STREET.  27  KING  WILLIAM  STREET,  STRAND. 


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•-J       ^: 


50m-8,'26 


TL 


293375 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


